How do I stop pressing charges

[Teresa1968]

How to I stop pressing charges

[lcg]

depends on the incident and the police can decide to continue with a case even if you do not. more info is needed for an answer, really. but i guess if that's what you want to try and do, contact the officer dealing with the case and possibly a solicitor - if the allegation/charges are serious.

[pizza]

You can go to the police station and tell them you no longer wish to press charges, but depending on the situation the police can still press charges if it has been a nuisance incident and summon you as a witness.
Good Luck if this involves you Teresa.

[shoota]

If the Police are involved you should attend the Police Station and make a retraction statement giving your reasons.
Nowadays however it is the Crown Prosecution Service who will decide whether or not they will continue with the prosecution and if necessary they will summons you to court to give evidence whether you want to or not so it may be an idea to try and talk to them first if it is at the stage where they are involved.

[boxtops]

It depends on the offence. If it's domestic violence, it may not be possible, the police don't like victims of DV retracting their statements.

[rojash]

It's never been an option in the UK for the victim to choose not to press charges, once a crime has been reported. Previously the police decided, now the CPS decide.

[exdc]

What act in law are you referring to Rojash?

[rojash]

More to the point exdc, which act in law gives the victim the right to decide?

[exdc]

Loads, but answer my question

[exdc]

Maybe not then

[bednobs]

i'm not answering for Rojash, but i presume he means it's not in the victims gift whether to carry on with a prosecution or not. If for example the CPS says there is not enough evidence to carry on to trial with a likelihood of success, nothing the victim says or does can change that can it? just like if the victim has (for example) been murdered, they are not around to press charges, but a prosecution still goes ahead. court cases are not bednobs Vs the bad guys, they are the crown Vs the bad guys. If you know different, perhaps you could tell me because i'd hate to be giving out the wrong info

[exdc]

Sorry Bednobs, I dont fully understand your post.

Rojash, "It's never been an option in the UK for the victim to choose NOT to press charges, once a crime has been reported".

Lets take Domestic violence cases for example, CPS Policy for Prosecuting Cases of Domestic Violence includes policy and guidance for police when the victim chooses to withdraw support for the prosecution (Code 5.9).

If I walked into a police station and wished to report that I had been assaulted I can choose not to press charges etc.

[New Judge]

You can certainly give the police/CPS an indication of your willingless or otherwise to support a prosecution (and a phrase to this effect is usually made at the bottom of a witness statement). However, the decision to proceed or otherwise (and how to treat you if you are or become a reluctant witness) is almost always within the sole gift of the CPS. It is not the victim or any other witnesses who "press charges". Prosecutions in England and Wales are brought by the CPS.

[bednobs]

exdc, then we are in the same boat, cause i don't understand yours, and i think you are wrong

[jedimistress]

It is my understanding that in the olden days, DV victims could ask not to press charges. So many cases werebeing dropped that the toing and froing and wasting police and CPS time, the manipulation of the DV victims, their fears, or the relationship being back on etc caused new legislation which said that DV prosecutions could still go ahead by the CPS wether or not the victim wanted them to. Therefore taking it out of the victims hands. I'm no expert, but that is what I thought was in effect these days. My sister tried to save her abusive ex when they got back together again, but the CPS continued anyway, and he went to jail.

[exdc]

Sorry folks, my answers are totally wrong but will update soon, please bear with me