1
NCTJ COURT REPORTING ACTUAL STUDY
SET 2025/2026 QUESTIONS AND 100%
CORRECT ANSWERS
What is the difference between court bail and police bail? - (ANSWER)Court bail
gives the person their liberty until their next court appearance. Police bail means
they are free to go but will be re-called for further questioning and for a decision
on
whether to charge or not.
Give three examples of either-way offences. - (ANSWER)Theft, sexual assault,
GBH.
What is the difference between theft and robbery? - (ANSWER)Robbery is theft
by force or threat of force.
What is a surety? - (ANSWER)A person who guarantees the defendant's
appearance and agrees to forfeit a set sum of money if the defendant absconds.
What is allocation? - (ANSWER)Where magistrates hear about the alleged crime
and decide if they can accept jurisdiction or if they
believe that their powers of punishment may be insufficient.
What is mitigation? - (ANSWER)An explanation of why a person might have
committed the crime.
,2
What is committal for sentence? - (ANSWER)When magistrates dealing with an
either-way offence in a summary trial, send the case to the Crown Court for
sentencing.
What is a conditional discharge? - (ANSWER)The court has not imposed or
specified punishment, but if the offender commits another offence within a given
time, they are liable to be punished for the first offence as well as the subsequent
offence.
Which section of which act imposes automatic reporting restrictions for pre-trial
hearings of summary offences? - (ANSWER)Section 8C of the Magistrates' Court
Act 1980.
What can we report under Section 52A of the Crime of Disorder Act 1998? -
(ANSWER)Name of the court.
Names of the magistrates.
Name, age, address and occupation of the defendant.
Basic details of the charge.
Date/place to which hearing is adjourned.
Arrangements as to bail.
Whether legal aid is granted.
What year was the Contempt of Court Act passed? - (ANSWER)1981.
, 3
What type of offence is contempt of court? - (ANSWER)A strict liability offence.
When does a case become active? - (ANSWER)A person has been arrested.
An arrest warrant is issued.
A summons is issued.
When does a case cease to be active? - (ANSWER)The arrested person is released
without charge.
No arrest is made within 12 months of the issue of a warrant.
The case is discontinued.
The defendant is acquitted or sentenced.
He/she is found unfit to be tried.
Can we publish backgrounders during the period between verdict and sentence,
and why? - (ANSWER)Yes, because it's the judge who decides the sentence and
judges are deemed to be above prejudice.
Give three examples why an individual might be refused court bail. -
(ANSWER)Fear of absconding, committing another offence or interfering with
witnesses.
NCTJ COURT REPORTING ACTUAL STUDY
SET 2025/2026 QUESTIONS AND 100%
CORRECT ANSWERS
What is the difference between court bail and police bail? - (ANSWER)Court bail
gives the person their liberty until their next court appearance. Police bail means
they are free to go but will be re-called for further questioning and for a decision
on
whether to charge or not.
Give three examples of either-way offences. - (ANSWER)Theft, sexual assault,
GBH.
What is the difference between theft and robbery? - (ANSWER)Robbery is theft
by force or threat of force.
What is a surety? - (ANSWER)A person who guarantees the defendant's
appearance and agrees to forfeit a set sum of money if the defendant absconds.
What is allocation? - (ANSWER)Where magistrates hear about the alleged crime
and decide if they can accept jurisdiction or if they
believe that their powers of punishment may be insufficient.
What is mitigation? - (ANSWER)An explanation of why a person might have
committed the crime.
,2
What is committal for sentence? - (ANSWER)When magistrates dealing with an
either-way offence in a summary trial, send the case to the Crown Court for
sentencing.
What is a conditional discharge? - (ANSWER)The court has not imposed or
specified punishment, but if the offender commits another offence within a given
time, they are liable to be punished for the first offence as well as the subsequent
offence.
Which section of which act imposes automatic reporting restrictions for pre-trial
hearings of summary offences? - (ANSWER)Section 8C of the Magistrates' Court
Act 1980.
What can we report under Section 52A of the Crime of Disorder Act 1998? -
(ANSWER)Name of the court.
Names of the magistrates.
Name, age, address and occupation of the defendant.
Basic details of the charge.
Date/place to which hearing is adjourned.
Arrangements as to bail.
Whether legal aid is granted.
What year was the Contempt of Court Act passed? - (ANSWER)1981.
, 3
What type of offence is contempt of court? - (ANSWER)A strict liability offence.
When does a case become active? - (ANSWER)A person has been arrested.
An arrest warrant is issued.
A summons is issued.
When does a case cease to be active? - (ANSWER)The arrested person is released
without charge.
No arrest is made within 12 months of the issue of a warrant.
The case is discontinued.
The defendant is acquitted or sentenced.
He/she is found unfit to be tried.
Can we publish backgrounders during the period between verdict and sentence,
and why? - (ANSWER)Yes, because it's the judge who decides the sentence and
judges are deemed to be above prejudice.
Give three examples why an individual might be refused court bail. -
(ANSWER)Fear of absconding, committing another offence or interfering with
witnesses.
