Charge (being charged)

Being charged means you are formally accused of a specific crime and the case will go to court, usually starting at a magistrates' court.

A charge is the formal accusation that you committed a specific criminal offence, and it starts a prosecution. At the police station you are cautioned again, the charge is read to you and you are given a written charge sheet. Police can decide to charge many less serious offences themselves, while the Crown Prosecution Service decides in more serious or complex cases, applying the Code for Crown Prosecutors. After charge you will usually either be released on bail to attend a magistrates' court on a set date, or kept in custody and taken to the next available court, often the next day. Once charged, you cannot normally be interviewed further about that offence. Being charged is not a finding of guilt: unless you plead guilty, the prosecution must prove the case. Some prosecutions start by a postal requisition instead of a charge at the police station.

Checked as at 25 September 2026. General information only, not legal advice.