We use some essential cookies to make this website work.
We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.
We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.
You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.
You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.
Departments, agencies and public bodies
News stories, speeches, letters and notices
Detailed guidance, regulations and rules
Reports, analysis and official statistics
Consultations and strategy
Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports
The different types of court - magistrates' court, Crown Court and youth court - the crimes they deal with and the level of sentences they can give.
All criminal cases start in a magistrates’ court. Cases are heard by…
A Crown Court: normally has a jury which decides if you’re guilty or not…
A youth court is a special type of magistrates’ court for people aged…
The Military Court Service provides a criminal court for the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force in the Court Martial, Summary Appeal and Service Civilian Court.
Latest information about procedures rules for magistrates' courts and the Crown Court not replaced by the Criminal or Family Procedure Rules.
We handle complex and high value national and international business disputes, often involving parties based outside the United Kingdom. We are widely recognised as being at the forefront in the resolution of international commercial disputes. Cases that we hear include...
The Circuit Commercial Court was formerly known as the Mercantile Court. We handle commercial and business disputes. Cases that we hear include: disputes over contracts and business documents insurance and reinsurance sale of goods import, export and transport (‘carriage’) of...
We review decisions made by people or bodies with a public law function, eg local authorities and regulatory bodies. We can: carry out a judicial review of decisions made by other courts, tribunals and public bodies hear challenges to decisions...
We handle cases relating to intellectual property disputes about: patents registered designs plant varieties If the amount sought (damages) is under £500,000 then the case can also be heard by the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court . If the amount sought...
The most common types of case we handle include: disputes relating to business, property or land disputes over trusts competition claims under either European or UK competition law commercial disputes (domestic and international) intellectual property issues disputes over the validity...
Her Majesty’s Courts Service was an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice and was responsible for the administration of the civil, family and criminal courts in England and Wales. It was merged with the Tribunal Service in 2011 to...
We decide specialist business and other civil international dispute resolution and business cases in England and Wales, whether domestic or international. We cover disputes that are dealt with by: The Commercial Court (e.g. shipping, sale of goods, insurance and reinsurance...
Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.
To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. Please fill in this survey (opens in a new tab).