COMMENCING CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS Three methods of commencement:
1. Public prosecutions (e.g. by CPS):
* written charge (setting out offence with which Defendant is charged) &
* requisition (requiring Defendant to appear before magistrates' court),
* issued by prosecutor: s29 CJA 2003.
2. Private prosecutions
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laying of information by prosecutor (allegation communicated to magistrates' court)
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? issue of summons by court.
3. Arrest ? charge. Written Requisition & Charge Method of securing Defendant's attendance at Magistrates Court Aim: Speed up process as matter does not have to first go before clerk or justice. "Public prosecutor" (s29(5) CJA'03) - Director of Public Prosecution/Attorney-General/Secretary of State/Police force /person authorised to institute criminal proceedings Charge without involvement of CPS - only available for summary and either-way offences when guilty plea expected. Public Prosecutor issues 2 docs:
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Written Charge - charges Defendant with offence
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Requisition - requires Defendant to attend at Magistrates Court to answer charge
Duplicitous Charge
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"duplicitous charge" - 2 offences charged
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Prosecution may elect one charge to proceed with, or
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2 charges may be tried together as long as no objection
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If objection - try separately
* unless Magistrates of opinion that defences are so connected that the interests of justice best served by a single trial
* If Magistrates decide to separate trials - debarred from hearing cases.
Amendment
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Wide powers to amend original charge
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Generally discrepancies between charge and evidence adduced not grounds for objection
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Prosecutor should seek to amend if substantial defect/variation - otherwise could lead to quashing conviction
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May amend charge (even to different offence) up to 6 months after issue - if:
* offence arose from same incident as in charge, and
* amendment in the interests of justice. Warrant of Arrest
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Can be used instead of requisition - apply to Magistrate to issue
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Information in warrant:
* Name of court
* Name and address of Defendant
* Offence alleged
* Signature of Magistrate (clerk not sufficient)
* If backed for bail - any conditions
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Only available if:
* information in writing,
* offence imprisonable (or Defendant is Juvenile and resides at unknown address), and
* proceedings to take place before a Magistrate (not clerk)
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Generally used where Defendant fails to attend after requisition - "bench warrant"
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May "back for bail" if think failure to attend due to error
* conditions for bail after arrest endorsed on back of warrant,
* if conditions met, Defendant released on bail. Laying of Information & Summons
Stages:
1. Speak to suspect - Police Officer cautions and then speaks to Defendant
2. Warn of Prosecution -
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if Police Officer considers that evidence against Defendant is sufficient to justify criminal proceedings, warns Defendant that he will be reported and consideration given to prosecuting him for certain offence(s)
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Pre-condition of conviction for certain traffic offences that Defendant given warning of prosecution orally or in writing (within 14 days)
3. Decision to prosecute -
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Police Officer makes report of the incident to Police Process Dept
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+ Any evidence (eg. Witness Statement that willing to testify against Defendant)
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Decision on whether to prosecute - consider evidence etc to decide which charge to prosecute
4. Prepare Information
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Can be oral (go to Magistrates Court and tell Magistrate on oath what Defendant did) or written
5. Laying the Information
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Written info delivered to apt Magistrates Court - "laid" when received by clerks office
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Information for summary offence must be "laid" within 6 months of offence
6. Issue of summons
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Judicial (not admin) decision - Magistrates/Magistrates' clerks must look at info laid and ask whether it justifies a summons
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If info is prima facie valid, Magistrate will issue a summons (delivered to Magistrate in draft form with the info)
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Summons sets out info against Defendant and states court date.
7. Serving the summons
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Court and/or Police serve on Defendant as well as sending the summons
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Likely inc: brief statement of facts and notice explaining how to plead guilty by post
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Defendant will be asked if intends to plead NG - if so, will be advised to attend Court on date of contested hearing, which he will be notified of.
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If fails to attend, case may be proved in his absence if Prosecution can prove due service of the summons and any adjournment notices.
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After judgment, may have to adjourn for sentence, if Defendant fails to attend for sentencing hearing, Magistrates may issue a warrant. ARREST (WITHOUT WARRANT) - CHARGE
ARREST Arrest: "the beginning of imprisonment" Requirements:
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Must have power of arrest (reasonable suspicion + necessary)
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Arrest must be justified, and
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Arrest must be properly carried-out
Power of Arrest s24 PACE - Police Power of Arrest
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A PC may arrest a person who he has reasonable grounds to suspect has committed, is committing, or is about to commit an offence.
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PC must have reasonable grounds for believing the arrest is necessary for ((5)):
* to enable name of person to be ascertained (ie. haven't given name or given a name and PC has reasonable grounds for believing it to be false)
* to enable person's address to be ascertained,
* to prevent the person: causing physical injury to himself/another, suffering physical injury, committing a public decency offence or causing an unlawful obstruction of the highway,
* to protect a child/vulnerable person from that person,
* to allow a prompt and effective investigation of the offence or of the person's conduct, or
* to prevent hinderance to the prosecution of the offence by the disappearance of that
person. s24A PACE - Citizens' Power of Arrest
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A citizen may arrest a person:
* who is in the act of committing an indictable offence, or
* on reasonable suspicion that the person has committed an indictable offence
# Justification: if can show that somebody (not necessarily arrestee) actually committed the offence suspected.
* Cannot arrest on suspicion that person is about to commit an offence
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The arrest must be necessary to prevent the person:
* causing physical injury to himself or another,
* suffering physical injury,
* causing loss or damage to property, or
* making off before a constable can assume responsibility for him
Justifying Arrest: PACE Code G
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1.2 - Right to liberty key principle of HRA - arrest is obvious and significant interference with that right
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1.3 - Use of power must be fully justified
* Should consider whether the necessary objectives could be met by other, less intrusive means,
# Not necessary for arrest to be only option - but must be practical and sensible option
* Must never arrest simply because can
* Must exercise power in non-discriminatory and proportionate manner
Effecting the Arrest
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Defendant must be informed under arrest for it to be lawful (s28)
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May use reasonable force to effect an arrest (s117)
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3 methods:
* Inform under arrest,
* Physically seize and inform under arrest as soon as practicable,
* Combination of words and conduct - make clear officer will, if necessary, use force to prevent the person from leaving.
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Requirements:
* Defendant must be told reason for arrest (even if obvs) -
# entitled to opportunity to explain any misunderstanding or call another person to Police Officer's attention
# reason given must be valid - if not, arrest unlawful even if there is a valid reason (which was not given)
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