IV. YORK MAGISTRATES COURT

York Magistrates Court was formerly known as Clifford Street Court of Justice and Police Headquarters. It was built in the 1890s, and is a Grade II listed building whose original fittings remain for the most part intact. All criminal cases begin at the Magistrates Court where they are heard by either a single legally trained district judge or two or three magistrates, who are upstanding members of the community, with no formal legal training. There is not a jury here, so the Magistrates usually handle cases known as ‘summary offences’ which include motoring offences, minor criminal damage, being drunk and disorderly as well as ‘indictable offences’. If there is a case to answer regarding indictable offences (i.e., rape or murder) then they will be committed to the Crown Court. It is interesting to note that 95% of all criminal cases heard in the UK begin at the Magistrates Court. It can also deal with some more serious offences including burglary or drugs offences. These cases are called ‘either way’ offences and can be heard either in a Magistrates Court or a Crown court.​