Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

committal definition

What does committal mean? In practice, committal refers either to transferring a case or defendant from one court to another, or to ordering a person’s detention in custody. England and Wales: formal committal for trial from the magistrates’ court has been replaced by sending for trial, but courts still commit for sentence where magistrates’ sentencing powers are insufficient, and may issue a warrant of committal to custody (for example, for contempt of court or certain enforcement failures). Northern Ireland: committal proceedings before a magistrates’ court remain the usual gateway to the Crown Court (testing whether there is a case to answer), alongside developing direct committal reforms. Scotland:...

Committal for civil contempt under CPR 81: permission, application content, penal notices, service and timing (England and Wales)

Published by a LexisNexis Dispute Resolution expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note outlines how to issue a contempt application and the material it must contain. It explains the need for a Penal notice on the application, and sets out requirements for service—on the defendant, on the defendant’s legal representatives, and for service out of the jurisdiction...

For guidance on the court’s approach to contempt applications (including the hurdles that must be cleared), see Practice Note: Civil contempt proceedings—nature and legal framework. For details of the categories of contempt that may arise, consult the following Practice Notes:

Civil contempt proceedings—non-compliance with a court order or undertaking
Civil contempt proceedings—false statements
Civil contempt proceedings—interference with the administration of justice
Civil contempt proceedings—contempt in the face of the court
Civil contempt proceedings—County Courts Act offences and High Court certifications

When are contempt proceedings appropriate?

Before taking any procedural step, give thorough consideration to whether launching contempt proceedings is appropriate. Pursuing contempt where it is not justified can expose your client to significant adverse costs consequences...

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Alexander West

Albion Chambers

Alexander West specialises in Matrimonial Finance, Regulatory Crime and Inquests.Having started his career with a City finance firm before moving to Linklaters LLP, Alexander now practices across the Western Circuit and beyond, undertaking a range of work across each of his areas of specialism. Alexander is a scholar of Middle Temple at GDL and BPTC level, and received the Sachs Award (top 5%) from City Law School for his results following the vocational element of his training. Alexander qualified as a mediator in 2010 and has since provided mediation training to barristers, solicitors and non-legal professionals, focusing on a facilitative approach to dispute resolution. Alexander is ranked by both Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500. ...

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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