IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0074 ACC/2566
Held at: London Metropolitan Archives
Title: LONDON MAGISTRATES CLERKS ASSOCIATION
Date(s): 1889-1957
Level of description: Collection
Extent: 0.01 linear metres
Name of creator(s): London Magistrates' Clerks' Association
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
An Act of 1792 established seven 'Public Offices' (later Police offices and Police courts) in the central Metropolitan area. The aim was to establish fixed locations where 'fit and able magistrates' would attend at fixed times to deal with an increasing number of criminal offences. Each office was assigned three Justices of the Peace. They were to receive a salary of £400 per annum. These were the first stipendiary magistrates. Later they were expected to be highly qualified in the law, indeed, to be experienced barristers.
The courts dealt with a wide range of business coming under the general heading of 'summary jurisdiction', i.e. trial without a jury. The cases heard were largely criminal and of the less serious kind. Over the years statutes created many offences that the courts could deal with in addition to Common Law offences. Examples include: drunk and disorderly conduct, assault, theft, begging, possessing stolen goods, cruelty to animals, desertion from the armed forces, betting, soliciting, loitering with intent, obstructing highways, and motoring offences. Non-criminal matters included small debts concerning income tax and local rates, landlord and tenant matters, matrimonial problems and bastardy.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Minute book of the London Magistrates' Clerks' Association, comprising minutes of annual general and committee meetings, with enclosures.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
One item catalogued as ACC/2566/001.
Conditions governing access:
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to access restrictions.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copyright to these records rests with the City of London.
Physical characteristics:
Fit
Finding aids:
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
This volume, which had been lost to the LMCA, was found among the records of the South Western Magistrates Court when they were transferred to the Greater London Record Office in April 1986.
ALLIED MATERIALS
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Date(s) of descriptions: June to August 2010.