Petty sessional division

A petty sessional division was, in England and Wales, the area that a magistrates' [court (England and Wales)|magistrates' court] had jurisdiction over. Petty sessional divisions were gradually consolidated in the 20th century, and were replaced by local [justice area]s in 2005.
Petty sessional divisions were formalised under the Division of [Counties Act 1828], but they had existed informally for centuries as arrangements within the counties themselves.
The areas were reinstated by the Local Government Order 1973.