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United Kingdom
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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 England and Wales: formal committal for trial from the magistrates’ court has been replaced by sending for trial, but courts still commit for sentence where magistrates’ sentencing powers are insufficient, and may issue a warrant of committal to custody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:...
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Sentencing in committal and contempt: principles, maximum terms, totality, suspension, concurrent proceedings, fines and costs (England and Wales)—CPR 81 (pre-1 October 2020) [Archived]
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Practice notes
ARCHIVED: This PrACTice Note has been archived and is no longer maintained.
This Practice Note is retained solely for historical Reference as it relates to CPR 81 as it stood before 1 October 2020, and to Practice Direction 81, which was revoked in full with effect from 1 October 2020.
If you are handling a committal application after 1 October 2020, you must consult the CPR 81 currently in force and the Practice Notes addressing it; see: Contempt and committal—overview. For the pre-1 October 2020 version of CPR 81 or Practice Direction 81, see:
This Practice Note considers the aims and principles of sentencing in contempt and writ of sequestration matters following a successful committal application. It does not attempt to provide a sentencing guide on the suitability or otherwise of sentence length in any particular circumstances. In line with Longhurst v Killen, the duration of any sentence will always turn on a broad range of factors and, naturally, the character of the contempt itself.
Committal proceedings—length of sentence
Under section 14 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 (CCA 1981), the maximum custodial term that the court may impose is...
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Web page updated on 21/05/2026
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