By appointment to the magistrates court "Archbold Magistrates' Courts Criminal Practice 2007", Archbold is not just the jewel in the crown court. Designed exclusively for the magistrates' court, "Archbold Magistrates' Courts Criminal Practice" brings all the authority, trust and reassurance of the Archbold name into the magistrates' court. With a coveted author team comprising barristers, judges, solicitors and clerks, this book gives you the law and procedure from the people who know best. Everything you need to work in the magistrates' court is presented in an order that follows the progress of a case - including the complex procedures for the youth court and the recent, extensive legislative changes. Reflecting the progress of a case, the works present precisely the information you need for magistrates' court work in an order that mirrors the progress of a case. Each offences chapter is set out in the same logical way, defining the offence with extracts from the relevant statutes; then dealing with procedure, elements of the offence, defences and sentencing. This work covers precisely what you need in the magistrates' courts. It also covers all criminal matters dealt with in the magistrates' court, including the youth court, follows a chronological order, so that you can find the information you need quickly, and uses a clear style and straightforward approach, so that every aspect is clearly explained. It includes full citation of authorities from statute and case law which can be cited in court and provides practical guidance on substantive law, showing what the prosecution must prove, defences and sentencing for each offence. It gives you the law and procedures from those who really understand how it works. It covers everything you need to know about recent changes and keeps you up to speed with the latest developments, including the new codes of practice under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. It also covers the latest legislative developments, including changes to procedure, evidence and sentencing under the Criminal Justice Act 2003, offers expert guidance on sentencing, including up-to-date tariffs together with guidance on aggravating and mitigating circumstances, and covers the procedures for the specialist areas. It features specialist coverage of youth court, with guidance on proceedings and the regime for vulnerable witnesses and sets out how to deal with mentally disordered offenders, showing what special arrangements apply exactly the tools you need. It contains procedural checklists to ensure quick reference and easy access to key information, includes core statutory material, codes, rules and practice directions for ease of reference, and provides flowcharts and diagrams to clarify complex areas such as dealing with young offenders just the way you need it. It also ensures portability with a one-volume format, ideal for court use and keeps you up to date with a supplementation service, enabling you to stay informed of ongoing developments. Focused on the latest development, anyone working in the magistrates' courts will know how extensive all the recent legislative changes have been. The new 2007 edition of "Archbold Magistrates' Courts Criminal Practice" provides authoritative and highly comprehensive coverage of all the changes, including guidance on interpretation and application in practice. It features: new legislation and procedure; new codes of practice under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984 (changes made necessary by the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and again by the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 and the Drugs Act 2005); further important amendments and changes to the Criminal Justice Act 2003; and custody plus and its impact on custodial sentences and suspended sentences. It also features: draft guidelines from the Sentencing Guidelines Council including: allocation of cases between the magistrates' and Crown Courts; SAP consultation paper on Bail Act Offences; SGC draft guidelines on robbery; SAP consultation paper on the sentencing of assault and other offences against the person; SGC draft guidelines on domestic violence and breach of protective order; dangerous offender provisions relevant to the magistrates' court; new form on the preliminary impairment test relating to driving with drugs; and The Road Safety Bill and the Fraud Bill due to receive royal assent in 2006 New Case Law. The new edition gives you case law updates on "Anti Social Behaviour Orders" and mentally disordered offenders. There is also consideration of the impact of cases such as: R v Ibrahima, R v Evans, R v Chambers (Drugs Offences); DPP v Wood and McGillicuddy (Road Traffic); DPP v Sharma (Confiscation of Assets); R v Turner, R v Gledhill, R v Elvidge, R v Mazzon, R v Wain, R v Couch (Sexual Offences); R v Blake, R v Bowman, R v Burns, R v Renda, R v Singh, R v Tully (Evidence); and H v DPP (Public Order Offences). A prestigious author team, exclusively written by a team of leading barristers, judges, solicitors and clerks all of whom have worked in the magistrates court, "Archbold Magistrates' Courts Criminal Practice" is bought to you by the people that know the law and the procedure best. With specialist authors on areas such as sentencing and youth court, you can be sure you're receiving guidance from the experts. Throughout the book, their practical experience focuses on showing how to put the law into practice whilst dealing with issues that may arise. Nicola Padfield, General Editor, is a barrister and a Fellow of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge and editor of "Archbold News". She is a Recorder and writes widely on all aspects of criminal law. Gaynor Houghton-Jones is a Justices' Clerk with thirty years' experience. She has written advisory manuals for magistrates' clerks and was President of the Justices' Clerks' Society (2002). Kevin McCormac OBE is Head of the Sentencing Guidelines Secretariat supporting the Sentencing Guidelines Council and Sentencing Advisory Panel. Formerly a Justices' Clerk and Justices' Chief Executive, he was President of the Justices' Clerks' Society for 2000/01. He is also an author of "Wilkinson's Road Traffic Offences". David Corker is a solicitor with Corker Binning and has a wide experience of criminal defence work. Gillian Jones is a barrister at 18 Red Lion Court, a leading criminal defence chambers. She is a committee member of the Criminal Bar Association. Barbara Barnes is a District Judge based in Middlesex with 20 years experience in the magistrates' court, most recently as the Justices' Clerk in Greenwich. Jeremy Coleman is a District Judge based at West London magistrates' court. Before becoming a District Judge, he was a solicitor in private practice specialising in work in the magistrates' courts, and particularly in the youth court for 20 years. Will Carter is a barrister at 1 Paper Buildings and has worked on Archbold: Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice for over 10 years. Louise Cowen, Assistant Editor, is a PhD student at the Institute of Criminology, Cambridge.

Table of Contents:
Pre-Trial Issues. Summary Trial. Specific Offences. Sentencing. Youth Court. Mentally Disordered Offenders. Legal Aid And Costs.