The Magistrate's Court is the most junior of all Courts - and the one that provides the most local service.
Cases begin when an accused person is charged by the Police.
The papers relating to the crime are passed on to the Crown Prosecution Service who decide whether or not the case should proceed to Court. The first appearance before a Magistrate should take place within a short time of the charge being made. Some offences are relatively minor and are known as Summary Offences. These are tried entirely within the Magistrates Court. Most motoring offences are dealt with in this way - speeding, driving without due care and attention, drunk driving etc.