Peace and Good Behaviour Act 1982
sec.8Where defendant does not appear
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sec.8 Where defendant does not appear
If at the time and place appointed by summons for the hearing of the complaint the defendant does not appear when called and proof is made to the court of due service of the summons in accordance with section 56 of the Justices Act 1886 , the court may— issue its warrant to apprehend the defendant and to bring the defendant before a court to answer the complaint and to be further dealt with according to law; or proceed in the absence of the defendant to hear and determine the matter of the complaint as fully and effectually to all intents and purposes as if the defendant had personally appeared before the court in obedience to the summons and may make an order referred to in section 7 ; or for any reason appearing to it to be a sufficient reason, adjourn the hearing to a time and place determined by it before a court. Where the court makes an order, a copy thereof shall be served on the defendant in the same manner as a summons may be served under the Justices Act 1886 . s 8 (prev s 7) amd 2016 No. 62 s 261 renum 2016 No. 62 s 266 (sec.8-ssec.1) If at the time and place appointed by summons for the hearing of the complaint the defendant does not appear when called and proof is made to the court of due service of the summons in accordance with section 56 of the Justices Act 1886 , the court may— issue its warrant to apprehend the defendant and to bring the defendant before a court to answer the complaint and to be further dealt with according to law; or proceed in the absence of the defendant to hear and determine the matter of the complaint as fully and effectually to all intents and purposes as if the defendant had personally appeared before the court in obedience to the summons and may make an order referred to in section 7 ; or for any reason appearing to it to be a sufficient reason, adjourn the hearing to a time and place determined by it before a court. (sec.8-ssec.2) Where the court makes an order, a copy thereof shall be served on the defendant in the same manner as a summons may be served under the Justices Act 1886 .
- (a) issue its warrant to apprehend the defendant and to bring the defendant before a court to answer the complaint and to be further dealt with according to law; or
- (b) proceed in the absence of the defendant to hear and determine the matter of the complaint as fully and effectually to all intents and purposes as if the defendant had personally appeared before the court in obedience to the summons and may make an order referred to in section 7 ; or
- (c) for any reason appearing to it to be a sufficient reason, adjourn the hearing to a time and place determined by it before a court.