Criminal Proceedings: Standards
Commons · Question 100039 · Tabled 15 Dec 2025 · Ministry of Justice · Official record
Answered 23 Dec 2025
Question
Asked by Nick Timothy
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will review the statutory time limit of six months for summary offences.
Answer
Answered by Jake Richards, 23 Dec 2025
Proceedings for summary-only offences must be commenced within six months of the date of the offence. The Government is satisfied that that this time limit, as set out in Section 127 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980, is an important safeguard which ens...