NCTJ Court Reporting Practice Exam

Which types of offences does the Crown Court primarily deal with?

1. Summary offences

2. Indictable-only offences and either-way offences

3. Minor traffic offences

4. Regulatory offences

The correct answer is: Indictable-only offences and either-way offences

The Crown Court primarily deals with indictable-only offences and either-way offences because it has the jurisdiction to hear the most serious types of criminal cases. Indictable-only offences are those that can only be tried in the Crown Court, such as murder, rape, and robbery. Either-way offences can be tried in either the Magistrates' Court or the Crown Court, depending on the seriousness of the case and the circumstances surrounding it, but they are serious enough to potentially warrant a Crown Court trial. In contrast, summary offences, which include less serious crimes such as petty theft or minor assaults, are generally heard in the Magistrates' Court. Minor traffic offences also fall under summary offences and are likewise dealt with at the Magistrates' Court level. Regulatory offences typically pertain to breaches of regulations and are often handled by specialized courts or lower-tier courts, not the Crown Court. Therefore, the Crown Court's focus on more serious indictable offences and the flexibility it has with either-way offences underscores why that particular choice stands out as accurate.