London Metropolitan Archives

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1000 Years of London's History in Documents, Photos, Maps and Films

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London Metropolitan Archives - Item Details

HAMPSTEAD PETTY SESSIONS DIVISION

Date of Creation:

1867-1991

Reference Code:

PS/HAM

Scope and Content:
  • Records of Hampstead Petty Sessional Division, 1867-1991, including court minute books; court registers; registers of summonses and orders; registers of offenders placed on probation; juvenile court registers; adoption registers; licensing registers and justices signing-in books.

    Court registers record the date of the hearing, the name of the informant or complainant (often the police), the name of the defendant, a brief note of the offence and the decision of the magistrate. Court minute books or notebooks are rough notes of the proceedings recording the gist of the evidence given.
Extent: 14.5 linear metres (288 volumes)
Classification: COURTS: MAGISTRATES
Site Location: London Metropolitan Archives
Level of Description:
    Collection

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Administrative History:
  • After the creation of Police Courts in central London in 1792, Petty Sessional Divisions outside the Police Court Area but within the administrative county of Middlesex, continued to use lay justices to deal with both criminal offences and administrative matters such as the licensing of innkeepers. Their criminal jurisdiction extended over a wide range of business coming under the general heading of 'summary jurisdiction', i.e. trial without a jury. The cases heard were largely criminal and of the less serious kind. Over the years statutes created many offences that the courts could deal with in addition to Common Law offences. Examples include: drunk and disorderly conduct, assault, theft, begging, possessing stolen goods, cruelty to animals, desertion from the armed forces, betting, soliciting, loitering with intent, obstructing highways, and motoring offences. Non-criminal matters included small debts concerning income tax and local rates, landlord and tenant matters, matrimonial problems and bastardy.

    Offences beyond the powers of the Court would normally be passed to the Sessions of the Peace or Gaol Delivery Sessions in the Old Bailey (from 1835 called the Central Criminal Court). From the late 19th century such cases would be the subject of preliminary hearings or committal proceedings in the magistrates' courts.

Creator: Hampstead Petty Sessional Division
Copyright: Depositor
Source of Acquisition:
  • Deposited in two accessions; in March 1996 and February 2002.
  • ACC/3695
  • B97/021
Access Restrictions: These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 2018
Physical Condition: Fit
Arrangement: PS/HAM/A-B: Registers (general)
PS/HAM/C-H: Registers (particular)