Comprises the following series:
QS4/1/ RETURNS OF SUMMARY CONVICTIONS IN PETTY SESSIONS 1831-1896
These volumes list summary convictions returned to the Clerk of the Peace from petty sessions and, later, police courts. Convictions under the Criminal Justice Act 1855 are not recorded in this series but in -/4/3/-below. A note of Jan 1897 at the end of -/4/3/4 states that 'so very few convictions of the class normally entered in this book are now returned .... that this book is discontinued and all summary convictions are kept together and entered in the other book' [ie -/4/4/-below]. For each conviction the details given are as follows: name, offence, where committed (later petty sessional division or police court), date. The last few entries are a bastardy order, and convictions for assaulting a constable, being a rogue and vagabond, wilful damage, attempt to steal from a person, attempted suicide, cheating and burglary. Only the first volume is indexed.
QS4/2/ RETURNS FROM PETTY SESSIONS OF CONVICTIONS UNDER THE JUVENILE OFFENDERS ACTS 1856-1880
Under the Juvenile Offenders Act 1847, 10&11 Vic. cap.82, offences of simple larceny committed by persons under the age of 15 (extended to 16 by 13&14 Vic. cap.37) could be dealt with by justices in petty sessions. If convicted the juvenile could be imprisoned for up to 3 months, could be fined up to £3 or could be privately whipped. Convictions and recognizances were to be returned to the Clerk of the Peace from petty sessions and police courts to be kept among the records of the court of Quarter Sessions. The Clerk of the Peace was to send a monthly return of names, offences and punishments to one of the Secretaries of State. Though the papers themselves appear not to have survived this register lists convictions received. For each conviction the details given are as follows: name, offence, petty sessional division or police court, date. The Act was repealed by the Summary Jurisdiction Act 1879, the provisions of which covered juvenile offenders. See also QS4/1/2 for convictions, 1850-1855.
QS4/3/ RETURNS FROM PETTY SESSIONS OF CONVICTIONS UNDER THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT 1855-1883
Under the Criminal Justice Act 1855, 18&19 Vic. cap.126 s.6, offences of simple larceny in which the property involved was worth 5s or less, could be dealt with summarily by justices in petty sessions. Certificates of dismissal and summary convictions under the Act, together with the written charge, witness statements and the statement of the accused, were to be returned by the justices at petty sessions to the next Quarter Sessions to be kept among the records of the court. Although the papers appear not to have survived these registers record the certificates of dismissal and convictions returned to the Clerk of the Peace from petty sessions and police courts. Name of party, offence, petty sessional division or police court, and date are given.
QS4/4/ RETURNS FROM PETTY SESSIONS UNDER SUMMARY JURISDICTION ACT 1879, 1884-1911
This series was commenced pursuant to the Summary Jurisdiction Act 1879, 42-43 Vic. cap.49, which extended the list of offences which could be dealt with summarily. It is in effect a continuation of -/4/1/-above. After 1896 all summary convictions are recorded in this series (see QS4/1/5). Name of party, offence, petty sessional division or police court, and date are given. A register for 1911-Easter 1915, continued as a register of cases referred to Quarter Sessions for appeal or sentence will be found above as QS3/5A/1.
QS4/5/ BASTARDY RETURNS FROM PETTY SESSIONS 1844-1858
Under 7 and 8 Vic. cap.101, sec.11 (1844), mothers of illegitimate children could cause the putative father to be summoned before Petty Sessions where an order might be made for maintenance and costs. There was a right of appeal from Petty Sessions to Quarter Sessions. Annual returns of summonses issued, applications heard and orders made were to be sent by the clerks to the justices in Petty Sessions to the clerk of the peace who was to transmit the returns to the secretary of state, with a return of the appeals made to quarter sessions. The legislation was repealed by 21 and 22 Vic. cap.67 (1858). These returns, sent in annually (for the year ending 31st Dec) from the various Police Courts and Petty Sessional Divisions in Surrey, are arranged under the following headings: name of mother of bastard child; date of summons; date of petty sessions; result of the application (eg maintenance order); name of putative father.
QS4/6/ PETTY SESSIONS RETURNS OF FEES 1889