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What to do if…
you receive an official notice that you are charged or must appear for an alleged violation

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Keep every page, identify the response deadline or appearance date, and contact a solicitor who handles criminal or regulatory cases in the relevant UK legal jurisdiction. Verify the notice through an official court or issuing-body contact route, but do not ignore it while checking.

Do not do these things

  • Do not throw away, alter, write on, or post the notice online.
  • Do not assume the notice is invalid because you dispute the allegation or do not recognise its wording.
  • Do not miss a stated response deadline or appearance without contacting the court or issuing body promptly.
  • Do not enter a plea or send a detailed account before obtaining legal advice where possible.
  • Do not contact a complainant, witness, or other named person if the paperwork or any bail condition restricts contact.
  • Do not breach any bail, release, reporting, travel, driving, or document-surrender condition.
  • Do not pay through an unexpected link or disclose banking or security information before independently verifying the notice.
  • Do not make major decisions about work, housing, travel, or relationships solely because the notice has arrived.

What to do now

  1. Read every page once in a calm place. Find the issuing body, your details, the alleged offence or violation, the case or reference number, the court or hearing location, and every date or deadline.

  2. Keep the original notice and its envelope together. Make clear photographs or scans of every page and store the copies securely.

  3. Write down exactly what the notice requires. It may require attendance, a written or online response, a plea, information, payment, or compliance with stated conditions.

  4. Put every deadline and appearance date in your calendar with an earlier reminder. If the date is today, has passed, or is very close, contact the court or issuing body immediately.

  5. Verify the notice independently. Find the court, police force, council, prosecutor, regulator, or other issuing body through its official website rather than relying only on links or telephone numbers printed in the notice. Quote the reference number and ask whether the notice and date are recorded.

  6. Contact a solicitor who deals with the type of allegation and practises in England and Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland as appropriate. Give them the wording of the allegation, the issuing body, the response deadline or appearance date, and details of any conditions.

  7. Ask the solicitor whether criminal legal aid, another form of public funding, or representation at court may be available. Eligibility and arrangements vary by jurisdiction, case type, finances, and circumstances.

  8. If attendance is required, confirm the date, time, location, attendance method, and accessibility arrangements with the court. If illness, disability, custody, caring responsibilities, or another serious obstacle may prevent attendance, ask the court and your solicitor what must be done. Do not assume the hearing has changed unless the court confirms it.

  9. Follow all current bail or release conditions exactly. Ask your solicitor or the body that imposed them for clarification if any wording is unclear.

  10. Preserve relevant existing material for your solicitor, such as messages, letters, photographs, receipts, call records, or documents. Do not edit it, delete it, publish it, or ask another person to change their account.

  11. Make a private factual note of when the notice arrived, how it was delivered, and any reason it may have reached you late, such as an old address or travel. Keep this with the paperwork.

What can wait

You do not need to prepare your entire defence, contact everyone involved, explain the allegation publicly, predict the outcome, resign from work, or make major personal decisions now. Detailed evidence review, plea decisions, applications, challenges, and longer-term consequences can wait until a solicitor has reviewed the actual paperwork.

Important reassurance

A charge, summons, citation, postal requisition, or similar notice records an allegation and requires a response; it is not by itself a finding that the allegation is true. Preserving the document, meeting its requirements, checking it independently, and obtaining advice are useful first steps.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate first steps only. Criminal and regulatory procedures differ across England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and the correct response depends on the issuing body and the type of notice. Later decisions may require advice from a solicitor practising in the relevant jurisdiction.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice or legal representation. Follow the notice, confirmed directions from the court or issuing body, and advice from a qualified solicitor who has reviewed your documents.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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