2. Once a crime has been broken, the victim will tell the police what has happened; and this is called making a Statement. Stage 1 – Law is Broke
3. Now the police will find out about the person who has been accused, and if they believe the person is guilty, the police will take the accused to the police station; this is called making an Arrest .
4. Once at the police station the arrested person can ask for help from a Solicitor. A solicitor is someone who knows all about the law.
5. The police officers who are finding out about the crime will Question the arrested person. Stage 2 - Charges
6.
7. 1) The charged person will then appear in the magistrates’ court. 2) The Charge sheet will be read out, and this explains what the person has been accused of. 3) The solicitor may ask for bail, and the magistrates decide whether to remand into custody or bail. This is how the magistrates court is laid out. More info on the next slide… Stage 3 Remand
8. Remanded in custody Someone who has been charged must stay locked up until they appear in court again. Remanded on bail This means they are charged with a crime but can go free until they appear in court again. Bail conditions mean a promise to behave in a certain way, maybe to not go near the crime victim.
9. 1) The accused person and their solicitor write down exactly what they say has happened, statement. 2) Police help other people who have seen what happened, witnesses, to write down what they saw. 3) The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) get all of the information and see if there is enough evidence to prove the person did the crime. Stage 4 Get ready for court
10. Most defendants now appear in court. There is no jury, just the magistrates, the judges, make the decisions. 1) The defendant has to say if they are 'guilty' or 'not guilty'. If the defendant says that they are guilty then the magistrates make their decision over what the punishment will be., called sentencing . If the defendant says they are not guilty then the Crown Prosecution Service tells the court why they think they are guilty. Stage 5 Magistrates Court
11. The more serious crimes, like murder, are dealt with in Crown Courts. A judge and jury make the decisions whether guilty or not guilty. A jury is a group of 12 randomly selected ordinary people across the country. When the jury have heard the reasons for the defendant being guilty and the reasons for them being innocent they make their decision. There needs to be at least 10 of the jury to agree on their ‘verdict’. Stage 6 The Crown Court
