Maintaining the peace had long been a concern of society and part of the Common Law, but that aspect of the Common Law was enshrined into statute by the enactment of the Justices of the PeaceAct 1361. The primary reason for the legislation was due to concerns about soldiers returning from the War in France, and the potential of them not reintegrating back into their communities as peaceful citizens. The Act defined who was eligible to become a Justice of the Peace, their duties and their powers. It detailed that each County assigned a Lord and three of four worthy people to become Justices of the Peace. The role of a Justice of the Peace was to deal with 'offenders, rioters, and all other barators'. It empowered them to apprehend, arrest, and punish them, in accordance with the ' law and customs of the realm'. The Act empowered a Justice of the Peace to imprison offenders, bind them over with sureties to be of good behaviour towards The Crown and people of the realm, and set fines, specifying the fine should be 'reasonable and just' according to the circumstances of the offence.
The Role of Justice of the Peace
The role of Justice of the Peace, now often known as Magistrates, originates from the Justices of the Peace Act 1361. The powers and responsibilities of them have altered over their long history. A Justice of the Peace held powerful sentencing powers such as hanging, whipping and penal transportation. Justices' of the Peace gained an array of duties such as dealing with local infrastructure such as roads and bridges, and regulating weights and measures used by traders. Many of the duties of Justice of the Peace, due to the development of local administration, were transferred to local government authorities. In 2018, about 21,500 volunteers service as a Justice of the Peace in Magistrates Courts. Typically, they deal with low level offences and crimes, and deal with 95% of criminal case taken to court. The maximum sentence a Magistrates Court can impose is 6 months imprisonment, and an unlimited fine. A Magistrates court is the starting point for the majority of the most serious types of crime that are later committed to Crown Court. An appeal court against a decision made in a Magistrate Court is the appeal is heard by two Justice of the Peace sitting with a Judge. In addition to criminal case Magistrates also hear Youth Court cases, involving people under 18 years old, civil cases, such a non-payment of council tax, and sit inFamily Proceedings Courts.
The Justices of the Peace Act 1361 permitted a Justice of the Peace to bind over people who disturbed the peace to provide recognisance to ensure their future good conduct. A Breach of the Peace can occur at any place, including private houses. The modern definition of a Breach of the Peace is, 'There is a Breach of the Peace when,
harm is actually done, or is likely to be done, to a person, whether by the conduct of the person against whom a breach of the peace is alleged or by someone whom it provokes;, or
harm is actually done, or is likely done, to a person's property in his presence
a person is genuinely in fear of harm to himself or to his property in his presence as a result of an assault, affray, riot or other disturbance"
Any person can make an arrest or a preventative measure when,
"a breach of the peace occurs in his presence, or
he reasonably believes that such a breach is about to occur, whether or not there has yet been a breach'
Binding Over Orders originate from the Justices of the Peace Act 1361. A person can be taken to court to be bound over, formally known as being bound over to keep the peace, after 2013, the specifics of what a person cannot do is tighter and clearly defined on the bind-over order. A breach of the peace is a civil law case, although it uses the criminal standard of proof 'beyond reasonable doubt'. After 7 October 2013, the Criminal Practice Direction EWCA Crim 1631 contain the full court procedures for Binding Over Orders for any matter, including Breach of the Peace. A person must agree to be bound over. In a Magistrate court, a person refusing to be bound over, is dealt with under the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980, and liable to imprisonment up to a maximum of 6 months or until they comply with the order. In Crown Court, such a refusal is dealt with as a Contempt of Court.
