The Act was passed on 21 August and originally extended throughout the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

[1] The Act allows judges wide latitude to dismiss a charge tried summarily against a defendant even when the court thinks it is proved, or to conditionally discharge a defendant (whether the charge is tried summarily or on indictment).

The power may be invoked when the court is of the opinion that having regard to the character, antecedents, age, health, or mental condition of the person charged, or to the trivial nature of the offence, or to the extenuating circumstances under which the offence was committed, it is inexpedient to inflict any punishment or any other than a nominal punishment, or that it is expedient to release the offender on probation[.

[7] The application of the Act has occasionally caused controversy where victims or persons affected by the crime feel that the dismissal is inappropriate.

Indeed, if a defendant is "given the Probation Act", it does not count as a criminal conviction,[9] although it has been known to negatively affect travel abroad.