weblink for simple explanation of criminal procedures in UK ?

Piliger

Hi - writers advice sought.

Can anyone suggest a link where I can find a simplified explanation of the procedures followed following arrest and up to final court trial ? things like arraignment, other.
It is ironic that we (the public) probably know more about the US system than the UK or Ireland 😄.
I have googled, but can only find very legalistic docs.

Fred Swanson

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Piliger

Thanks for that. I'll check it out. My story is based in London. Tks again.

Piliger

One question:

I understand that the police can grant bail. However if they don't and they take you to a court where the CPS will argue against bail and the court will choose. (Page7)

Is there a name for this first court appearance ? I think it is the 'arraignment hearing' in the US ? And is it just a local court ? (murder case)

Tks.

Fred Swanson

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coylemj

OP, is your story set in the present or a point in the past? If it's a London murder then the accused will be brought in the first instance before a magistrates' court, which one will depend on when the events happened. After several remand hearings in the magistrates court he will be sent for trial before a judge and jury in the Central Criminal Court aka the Old Bailey.

Piliger

coylemj wrote: »

OP, is your story set in the present or a point in the past? If it's a London murder then the accused will be brought in the first instance before a magistrates' court, which one will depend on when the events happened. After several remand hearings in the magistrates court he will be sent for trial before a judge and jury in the Central Criminal Court aka the Old Bailey.

Present.Great info above ... many thanks. I didn't think the word arraignment was used in the UK.

And Fred too ! Appreciate it.

coylemj

Put the initial court appearance here ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster_Magistrates%27_Court

Older cases would have been before Bow Street or Horseferry Road magistrates' courts.

If you're doing court dialog, the magistrates are addressed as 'your worship(s)' and in the Old Bailey the judge will be addressed as M'Lord.

TopTec

[QUOTE=coylemj;and in the Old Bailey the judge will be addressed as M'Lord.[/QUOTE]

Or M'Lady....!

TT

Bepolite

Bear in mind that 'UK' gets used interchangeably with 'England and Wales'. Scotland and NI have different procedures. I'm not overly familiar with NI but Scotland is very different especially at the Court stage.

I'm not sure if they still do it, but Scotland used to have a volunteer state of detention, sort of under that of a full-arrest.

coylemj

Bepolite wrote: »

Bear in mind that 'UK' gets used interchangeably with 'England and Wales'. Scotland and NI have different procedures. I'm not overly familiar with NI but Scotland is very different especially at the Court stage.

I'm not sure if they still do it, but Scotland used to have a volunteer state of detention, sort of under that of a full-arrest.

Agreed but the OP said in his/her second post that the story is set in London.

Bepolite

coylemj wrote: »

Agreed but the OP said in his/her second post that the story is set in London.

Maybe they go to Edinburgh for a weekend. :P

OP Law and Order:UK have a watch.

Piliger

Bepolite wrote: »

Bear in mind that 'UK' gets used interchangeably with 'England and Wales'. Scotland and NI have different procedures. I'm not overly familiar with NI but Scotland is very different especially at the Court stage.

I'm not sure if they still do it, but Scotland used to have a volunteer state of detention, sort of under that of a full-arrest.

I did realise Scotland do a lot differently ... again from watching tv Procurator fiscal comes to mind ? Thanks.

Piliger

coylemj wrote: »

Agreed but the OP said in his/her second post that the story is set in London.

While you're still here ... what about that word "Arraignment" ... is it used on this side of the atlantic ? especially in London ?

Fred Swanson

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Piliger

Fred Swanson wrote: »

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Thanks. I thought it was 'solely' an American term.

Bepolite

Piliger wrote: »

I did realise Scotland do a lot differently ... again from watching tv Procurator fiscal comes to mind ? Thanks.

That and three verdicts, 15 person juries, different arrest procedures...

coylemj

OP, there is a list of legal terms and their official meaning here (downloadable PDF)....

www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/criminal/docs/crim-proc-rules-2013-Glossary.pdf

Piliger

coylemj wrote: »

OP, there is a list of legal terms and their official meaning here (downloadable PDF)....

www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/criminal/docs/crim-proc-rules-2013-Glossary.pdf

Brilliant. Many thanks ... again.