WEST SUSSEX RECORD OFFICE: PETTY SESSIONS RECORDS

PS

WEST SUSSEX RECORD OFFICE: PETTY SESSIONS RECORDS

West Sussex Petty Sessional Divisions

For the purpose of cataloguing the following scheme has been chosen. This follows the structure as it existed for much of the 20th century. Changes in the title and constitution of the divisions are noted in the body of the catalogue.

PS/AB Arundel Borough

PS/AR Arundel

PS/CC Chichester City

PS/CH Chichester

PS/CD Chichester District

PS/CR Crawley

PS/EG East Grinstead

PS/HH Haywards Heath

PS/HO Horsham

PS/MH Midhurst

PS/MS Mid-Sussex

PS/PW Petworth

PS/ST Steyning

PS/WO Worthing

The Records

The records date from 1828 to the mid-1990's. They continue to be deposited by the Clerks to the Magistrates.

The principal records on the criminal side are the Registers and Minute Books of the Courts of Summary Jurisdiction. Registers provide the name of the informant/complaint and defendant, the offence, date and the minute of adjudication. Minute Books contain brief details of the offenders, the information of witnesses and the court's verdict. Case files are generally destroyed by the Courts after three years.

On the civil side the principal records are the Registers of Inns and Alehouses, Registers of Clubs, and Registers of Cinemas. Plus Adoption Registers and Case Files in Adoption, Matrimonial and Affiliation Cases.

Classification Scheme

REGISTERS

1. Court Registers

2. Juvenile Court/Youth Registers

3. Bail Registers

4. Community Charge Registers

5. Fixed Penalty Registers

6. Finance/Enforcement Registers

7. Legal Aid Registers

8. Domestic Proceedings/Family Registers

9. Adoption Registers

10. Licensing Registers

11. Clubs Registers

12. Cinema, Music and Dancing Licence Registers

13. Miscellaneous Registers

MINUTE BOOKS

14. Court Minute Books

15. Juvenile Court Minute Books

16. Domestic Proceedings Minute Books

17. Licensing Minute Books

18. Committee Minute Books

19. Agenda Books

20. Miscellaneous Minute Books

COURT PAPERS

21. Court Papers/Case Files

22. Crown Court Committal Papers

23. Probation Papers

24. Matrimonial & Affiliation Case Papers

25. Adoption Case Papers

26. Licensing Papers

27. Club Licensing Papers

28. Cinema Licensing Papers

29. Miscellaneous Court Papers

ACCOUNT BOOKS

30. Fines & Fees Accounts Books

31. Remitted Fees Account Books

32. Transfer of Fine Orders

33. Cash Books & Ledgers

34. Miscellaneous Account Books

MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS

35. Statutes & Acts of Parliament

36. Home Office Circulars & Orders

37. Other Papers.

English

Meetings of local justices outside Quarter Sessions evolved as the growth of business required. In 1828 the courts of Quarter Sessions were empowered to create within each county divisions for Petty Sessions which tended to correspond with the older hundreds into which counties had formerly been divided.

In West Sussex these divisions were based on the three Rapes - of Arundel, Bramber and Chichester - each of which was divided into a Lower and an Upper Division. Worthing was regarded as a separate District (QAD/WI).

Whereas Quarter Sessions met four times a year, Petty Sessions were held much more frequently. They had civil jurisdiction such as the licensing of inns and alehouses whist their criminal jurisdiction applied primarily to minor non-indictable offences.

Arundel Borough and Chichester City held separate Petty Sessional Courts. As business increased over time old divisions split, Crawley separating from Horsham for example, but latterly the trend has been towards the amalgamation of divisions. Petty Sessional Courts have been known as Magistrates Courts since the 1950's.