§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the offences for which trial in absentia is permitted in the United Kingdom. [26603]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThere is no list of offences; an accused can plead guilty in writing to a magistrates court if the offence is liable for a sentence of less than three months' imprisonment.
A magistrate may proceed with a hearing if the accused fails to appear, or if (s)he is satisfied that there is no good reason for their absence.
As a general rule, the accused is required to be present during Crown Court trials. There are, however, exceptional circumstances when the accused's presence
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Number of defendants prosecuted at magistrates courts and offenders convicted at all courts for offences relating to animal cruelty, England and Wales 1999–2000 1990 1991 1992 Legislation Prosecutions Convictions Prosecutions Convictions Prosecutions Convictions Protection of Animals Act, 1911 (as amended) 1,167 968 1,202 862 1,154 926 Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 Sec. 8 7 7 1 0 4 4 Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925 1 1 0 0 0 0 Protection of Animals (Cruelty to Dogs) Act, 1933 61 48 33 25 31 27 Protection of Animals Act, 1934 1 1 1 1 1 1 Docking and Nicking of Horses Act, 1949 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pet Animals Act, 1951 9 6 10 6 23 18 Cockfighting Act, 1952 0 0 0 0 1 0 Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act, 1954 21 21 39 30 29 26 Animal Health Act, 1981, Secs. 40-42, 46 and 49 and Orders made under Secs. 8, 9, 37, 38, 39 and 43 53 43 98 78 73 62 Slaughterhouses Act, 1974 12 8 4 4 5 5 Abandonment of Animals Act, 1960, Sec. 1 52 41 47 41 62 54 Offences against other enactments 0 0 0 0 0 0 Animals (Cruel Poisons) Act, 1962 0 0 2 2 5 5 Animal Boarding Establishments Act, 1963 4 3 10 9 5 5 Riding Establishments Acts, 1964 and 1970 10 7 8 6 5 4 Slaughter of Poultry Act, 1967 0 0 2 2 3 3 Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1967, Secs. 1, 2 and 6 13 11 18 17 16 12 may be dispensed with. Such decisions are at the judge's discretion, and include situations such as misbehaviour by the accused or his/her voluntary absence.