UK Court Proceeding, Initial steps

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/will-case-go-court

Starting prosecution proceedings

If a decision is made to prosecute, a case can be commenced with either a charge sheet or a summons.
If it is by way of a charge sheet, this involves the police charging the suspect, who has been arrested, and the PPS reviewing the charge before the first court appearance to make sure there is enough evidence at that stage for the defendant to be prosecuted. The defendant will either be:

• held in police custody overnight and produced at the first available court, where the court will then have to consider the issue of bail
• released on police bail to appear before court on a stated date within 28 days from the charge

If the case is commenced by way of a summons, this is issued by the PPS and is served on the defendant either by post or in person. The defendant will be required to go to court on the date stated on the summons.
​Find out more about custody and bail.