In 1971 Magistrates Courts replaced the Petty Sessions. All criminal cases start in a magistrates court and are heard either by 2 or 3 magistrates or by a district judge - there is no jury. A magistrates court normally handles cases known as summary offences, eg: most motoring offences, minor criminal damage and being drunk and disorderly. They also deal with some more serious offences such as burglary and drugs-related offences. The most serious crimes are passed on to be heard at the Crown Court.
[Registers are closed to the public for 100 years from the last date of the register.]