Summary jurisdiction courts

(1) There shall be established in each judicial district a “Summary Jurisdiction Court” which shall have and exercise criminal jurisdiction in accordance with, and subject to– (a) the Summary Jurisdiction (Procedure) Act; CAP. 99. (b) the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act; CAP. 98. (c) Part VIII of the Supreme Court of Judicature Act, and rules of court made thereunder; and CAP. 91. (d) any other Act or law conferring upon the court jurisdiction to hear and determine any complaint or information or authorising it to do or perform any act or function. 10 (2) Subject to this or any other Act, the summary jurisdiction court of each judicial district shall have full jurisdiction and power therein– (a) to hear and determine all complaints or informations for conviction including complaints or informations for the recovery of fines, penalties or forfeitures not specifically assigned by statute to the Supreme Court; (b) to receive and inquire into all charges of indictable offences and to make any orders in respect thereof the Indictable Procedure Act; and (c) generally, to do all acts and things, required by any statute, law or usage now or hereafter in force, appertaining to a jurisdiction court in England. (3) All offences and matters cognisable under any statute before a summary jurisdiction court committed or arising in or within the limits of any bay, creek or inlet of the sea, or on any river or creek, of or within Belize, may be heard and determined by the summary jurisdiction court in the judicial district bordering on that bay, creek or inlet of the sea or that river or creek. (4) All offences and matters described in sub-section (3), committed or arising on board any ship, vessel or boat, beyond the limits described in sub-section (3), may be heard and determined by the summary jurisdiction court in the district off the shore of which, the ship, vessel or boat is at the time of the commission of the offences and matters, or by the summary jurisdiction court in the judicial district on or near to the shore of which the ship, vessel or boat first anchors or touches after the commission of the offences and matters arising aforesaid. 11