An indictable offence is a serious criminal act that can be tried in a higher court, such as the Crown Court or the High Court. These types of crimes are usually punishable by imprisonment for more than one year and include offenses like murder, rape, robbery, and drug trafficking. The term "indictable" refers to the fact that a grand jury must first decide whether there is enough evidence to warrant a trial; this process is called an indictment. In contrast, less serious crimes are tried in lower courts or dealt with by magistrates and do not require an indictment.