New South Wales Consolidated Acts

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 1986 - SECT 174

174 Commencement of private prosecutions

(1) If a person other than a police officer or public officer is authorised under section 14 of this Act or under any other law to commence proceedings for an offence against a person, the person may commence the proceedings by issuing a court attendance notice, signed by a registrar, and filing the notice in accordance with this Division.

(2) A registrar must not sign a court attendance notice if--

(a) the registrar is of the opinion that the notice does not disclose grounds for the proceedings, or

(b) the registrar is of the opinion that the notice is not in the form required by or under this Act, or

(c) the registrar is of the opinion that a ground for refusal set out in the rules applies to the notice.

(3) If a registrar refuses to sign a court attendance notice proposed to be issued by any such person, the question of whether the court attendance notice is to be signed and issued is to be determined by a Magistrate on application by the person.