Being charged

When you are charged (either at the station or later by summonsA document which is issued by the court requiring the attendance of the person named in the summons at court on a specified date.), the charge sheets will set out the following:

• The alleged offence
• The act or legislation name and section under which you have been charged
• Your name, address and date of birth
• The name, rank and station of the police informant laying the charges
• The date and venue of the court at which you must appear

The first thing you should do after being charged is to contact your Legal Support Team or a lawyer.

Once you have retained a lawyer, that lawyer will request the ‘brief of evidence’ from the police. This brief of evidence should contain all the witness statements, photographs, forensic tests and samples, exhibits, telephone intercepts, videos and any other evidence the police intend to rely on to prove the charge against you.

If you do not have a lawyer, you should request this brief of evidence directly from the police informantA person who lays an information, i.e. a criminal charge (q.v.). Usually a police officer. yourself.

See Approaching the court for legal information about dealing with a court appearance.