Improper Use of Magic Office

The Improper Use of Magic Office is a division of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement headed by Mafalda Hopkirk. The Office is responsible for investigating offences under the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery and International Confederation of Wizards' Statute of Secrecy. The Decree prohibits an under-age wizard or witch from performing magic, while the Statute of Secrecy prohibits wizards and witches from performing magic in the presence of Muggles or in a Muggle-inhabited area. On receiving intelligence reports of a violation of the Decree, a note is sent to the offender detailing actions that will be taken by the Office. First-time offenders are usually let off with a warning while extreme cases may be referred to the Wizengamot.

Amelia Bones was the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement before getting killed in the summer of 1996.

It is suggested that the Improper Use of Magic Office attends Wizengamot Court services, though when Harry Potter has a trial in the fifth book, nothing is mentioned about them.

It is presumed that, this department has several positions and that they remained loyal to the Ministry when Cornelius Fudge believed that Voldemort had not returned in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

The Improper Use of Magic Office is mentioned multiple times in the series; Harry receives a warning letter from them when Dobby uses a Levitation Charm on a pudding of Harry's Aunt in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Harry later receives a letter when he uses the patronous charm against threatening Dementors. The letter informs him that his wand will be confiscated and broken by ministry officials and that he will be detained until court notice; this appears to be standard procedure.

In Order of the Phoenix, Harry is tried by the entire Wizengamot court, however, Arthur Weasley remarks that it is highly unusual procedure for an under-age use of magic case. The court room is the same one visited by Harry in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire via the Pensieve, it includes a chair that self-locks when the defendant sits down, though Arthur Weasley also implies that it is unusual for the hearing to be held in such a room.