Criminal Proceedings

Criminal proceedings is the term used for when  someone is brought to court to answer an allegation that they have committed  a criminal offence.

There are 2 ways that criminal proceedings in the court may commence;

1. Charge at the police station, or

1. Information laid at the court which results in a summons requiring a person to attend the court.

The decision to bring a prosecution (commence criminal proceedings) is undertaken by the Attorney General's Office and more information about how that decision is made can be found here.

There are 4 criminal courts of the Falkland Islands;

1. Summary Court
2. Magistrate's Court
3. Supreme Court
4. Court of Appeal

All proceedings commence in the Summary Court and will be allocated/sent/transferred to another court if required.