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Crown Court


1. Most health and safety offences are triable either way, which means that they are triable in either a magistrates' court or in the Crown Court. Whether a defendant is tried in a magistrates' court or the Crown Court is determined at the first hearing1. Committals for sentence after a guilty plea in a magistrates' court are dealt with at the end of this section.

2. Where a case is likely to be tried in the Crown Court legal advice should be sought as soon as possible, from either the Legal Adviser's Office if the case meets the Independent Legal Oversight criteria, or a solicitor agent; please see OC 168/13 for guidance.


  1. See section on 'Magistrates' Court Hearings'.
Updated 2016-02-22