Single justice procedure extended for prosecution of companies
For some minor offences, companies can now be prosecuted without the need to go to court.
From today (4 January 2023) prosecutors can deal with non-imprisonable cases involving companies without the need to go to court.
For companies, non-imprisonable cases are for lesser offences, such as:
- excess vehicle weight
- lack of or incorrect operator’s licence
- tachograph offences
- failure to give identification of a driver
This change will help to move cases for minor offences out of the courtroom and is an extension of the Single Justice Procedure (SJP). SJP minimises delays and allows more court time for other more serious cases.
SJP process for companies
SJP will be the same for companies as it is for individuals. The decision as to whether to prosecute a company using SJP or in court is decided by the prosecutor.
As with all SJP cases, defendants can still choose to have their case heard in a court. They can also submit a plea on paper, rather than electronically, where needed.
When a company is a defendant, the plea and means forms must be signed by either a:
- company secretary
- company director
- company solicitor
We’ve amended the means form so companies can give the relevant finance details.
More about SJP
SJP enables magistrates’ courts to deal with minor offences more efficiently, while still ensuring rigorous, open and fair justice.
A single magistrate, supported by a legal adviser, can decide adult, minor, non-imprisonable and victimless offences. Those who plead guilty can resolve their case without going to court. This makes the process quicker and more efficient, while still being fair and transparent.
Although SJP cases are dealt with by one magistrate with a legal adviser present, they’re still open to scrutiny. We publish lists of pending SJP cases daily. Any member of the public can request the outcome of an SJP case (or any other case), and the information can be shared with both the public and the media.
Guidance and support
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