Courts Act 1971

38 Offences

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section—

(a) if a person duly summoned under this Part of this Act fails to attend (on the first or on any subsequent day on which he is required to attend by the summons or by the appropriate officer) in compliance with the summons, or

(b) if a person, after attending in pursuance of a summons, is not available when called on to serve as a juror, or is unfit for service by reason of drink or drugs,

he shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £100.

(2) An offence under subsection (1) above shall be punishable either on summary conviction or as if it were criminal contempt of court committed in the face of the court.

(3) Subsection (1)(a) above shall not apply to a person summoned, otherwise than under section 33 of this Act, unless the summons was duly served on him on a date not later than fourteen days before the date fixed by the summons for his first attendance.

(4) A person shall not be liable to be punished under this section if he can show some reasonable cause for his failure to comply with the summons, or for not being available when called on to serve, and this section has effect subject to the provisions of this Part of this Act about the withdrawal or alteration of a summons, and about the granting of any excusal or exemption.