UK court sytem

BBC - iCan - - A2066951 - Understanding the court system and tribunals: "Guide: Understanding the court system and tribunals

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THIS PAGE WAS CREATED BY THE BBC


Last updated:Tuesday 07 September 2004


1. Overview of the court system
2. Tribunals
3. Civil action in the courts
4. Criminal action in the courts: England and Wales
5. Criminal courts in Northern Ireland
6. Criminal courts in Scotland
7. House of Lords
8. Court of European Justice
9. Roles in the courts
10. Feedback and comments

1. Overview of the court system

For most people, when they go to court they are most likely to end up in a tribunal. These are the judicial bodies established to deal with disputes on matters ranging from employment to transport. Most other legal action, whether it is theft or divorce, is dealt with by the police, the crown prosecution service and ultimately the court service. It's only in the rare and extreme cases that big criminal courts get involved.

The most important thing to understand about the British court system is the distinction between civil and criminal cases. Civil offences "