INFORMATION, in English law, a proceeding on behalf of the crown against a subject otherwise than by indictment is either criminal or civil. Criminal informations are ex officio or by the Master of the Crown office. An ex officio information is a proceed ing in the King's Bench by the attorney-general without the inter vention of a grand jury. The attorney-general, or, in his absence, the solicitor-general, has a right ex officio to file a criminal infor mation in respect of any misdemeanour, but not for treason, felonies or misprision of treason. It is, however, seldom exercised, except in cases which might be described as "enormous misde meanours," such as those peculiarly tending to disturb or endanger the king's government, e.g., seditions, obstructing the king's officers in the execution of their duties, etc.
There are informations also which are the first step in proceed ings in permits of summary jurisdiction leading to the issue of summonses or warrants. They relate to proceedings of a criminal nature as opposed to complaints which are the initiatory steps to proceedings of a civil nature in these courts.
Civil informations are of two kinds and are filed on the Revenue side of the King's Bench Division. The Latin information is the way in which the Crown recovers money or other chattels, and these informations are either in rem or in personam. Informa tions in rem are used chiefly where the Crown lays a claim to property and are usually resorted to where such property is alleged to have become forfeited under customs or inland revenue stat utes. Informations in personam are largely used to recover a debt to the Crown whether such debt is payable by penalty or in another way. The other form of civil information is the English information and is generally used to recover corporeal or incor poreal hereditaments and also debts to the Crown where discovery and an account are sought.