Caught by the Fuzz...Charge or Release So you've read about being stopped and searched, then found out about being arrested and questioned, well what happens after that? It's decision time as you've either gotta be Charged or Released. So after all this they've gotta make a decision?  If there is not enough evidence then they have to release you and take no action or say there will be more enquiries, but if there is they can do one of three things,
- Give you a Formal Caution, which is a warning from the Police that you could've been in a lot more trouble, however it could only be given if you admit guilt and the offence is not serious
- Charge you with the offence
- Leave it to the Crown Prosecution Service to decide to charge you
But as I'm young I'll get off with a caution, right?  Not exactly as it depends on how serious the offence you committed was, however a new experimental scheme is being tried called the Final Warning Scheme, which is intended to replace cautioning and only applies to under-18's. The first will only mean a reprimand (depending on how serious it is), a second offence will mean a final warning and once you've got a warning the next offence will mean charge.
So what happens if I'm charged? Well you won't be asked further questions unless something else comes up that is important and you will be given a charge card that has the crime you've been charged with listed on it, the conditions of any bail and when you have to go to court.  What's Bail?
This is when you are allowed to leave police custody.. However sometimes you will not get bail if the police think you won't turn up or you've lied about your identity. It's then up to a magistrate court to decide and set the conditions for bail, such as you don't leave the area and sometimes you have to pay as a sort of security that you will turn up in court. You won't get bail if it's a very, very serious crime like murder or if you were already on bail when you committed the offence. So you've read all about the Police, if you wanna know more you're gonna have to read about: So that's what you need to know about Charge or Release now check out the following: The laws stated in this article apply only to England and Wales
by ChrisM
|
|
