You might have to go to court as a witness

Summary

If you’re a witness for the prosecution you’ll usually hear about the progress of the case from a Witness Care Unit or the police. Witness Care Units are usually run by the police - they’ll act as a link between you and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). If you’re a witness for the defence, the defence lawyer or someone from their team will keep you updated about the case. If the case hasn’t been investigated by the police but by someone else - for example the RSPCA, they’ll keep you up to date. The witness care officer or the defence lawyer will: * keep you informed about the progress of the case * help you with practical arrangements like childcare and transport * arrange help if you have any special needs - check if you can get extra help from the court They’ll also let you know if you’ll need to go to court - you’ll get a witness warning by phone, email or letter. Getting a witness warning means you'll have to go to court on the day of the trial, and give evidence if you're asked to. Even if you get a warning, you might not have to give evidence on the day. For example, if the defendant pleads guilty. At this stage it’s a good idea to tell your employer that you'll need to.

Key information

• •keep you informed about the progress of the case
• •help you with practical arrangements like childcare and transport
• •arrange help if you have any special needs - check if you can get extra help from the court
• •If you’re a witness for the prosecution you’ll usually hear about the progress of the case from a Witness Care Unit or the police. Witness Care Units are usually run by the police - they’ll act as a link between you and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
• •If you’re a witness for the defence, the defence lawyer or someone from their team will keep you updated about the case.
• •If the case hasn’t been investigated by the police but by someone else - for example the RSPCA, they’ll keep you up to date.
• •* help you with practical arrangements like childcare and transport
• •* arrange help if you have any special needs - check if you can get extra help from the court
• •They’ll also let you know if you’ll need to go to court - you’ll get a witness warning by phone, email or letter.
• •Getting a witness warning means you'll have to go to court on the day of the trial, and give evidence if you're asked to.
• •Even if you get a warning, you might not have to give evidence on the day. For example, if the defendant pleads guilty.
• •At this stage it’s a good idea to tell your employer that you'll need to take time off if the trial goes ahead. Let them know you might not be able to give them much notice.

Practical guidance

• •Source: [You might have to go to court as a witness](https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/legal-system/going-to-court-as-a-witness1/you-might-have-to-go-to-court-as-a-witness/you-might-have-to-go-to-court-as-witness/)

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