... in court if required they are bailed or a summons is issued which instructs the accused to appear at a named magistrate's court at a particular time. When the offender is accused of a more serious crime a warrant will be issued to secure the persons arrest. There are three possible forms the trial can take according to the nature of the offence. The Criminal Law Act 1977 sets out three categories of offences: * Minor offences, the vast majority of motoring offences, common assault, criminal damage where the value of damage is less than £5,000 etc. are triable summarily; * Serious offences, murder, rape, robbery etc. are triable on indictment; * Offences which are 'triable either way', theft, actual bodily harm, theft etc. In this case the magistrate's will decide which court the case should be heard in. In the magistrate's courts all offences are tried summarily, without a jury, ...

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