Commencing proceedings

All criminal cases begin in the magistrates' court regardless of the seriousness of the offence. There are, however, a number of ways of commencing criminal proceedings in England and Wales:

1. •

   the defendant may be arrested and charged by the police and brought before a magistrates’ court

2. •

   the prosecution can apply to the magistrates’ court for the issue of a summons (also called ‘laying an information’) requiring the defendant to attend court on a specified date and time

3. •

   a relevant prosecutor may issue a written charge together with a requisition requiring the defendant to attend court on a specified date and time

4. •

   a relevant prosecutor may issue a written charge together with a single justice procedure notice requiring the defendant to indicate a plea and if guilty, consent to the disposal of the case-by-use of the single justice procedure on the papers