Arrest
Once the suspect is at the police station he or she will be told their rights and asked if they want a solicitor to represent them. It is up to the suspect to decide whether or not they do. If the suspect is under 17 the police must find an "appropriate adult" to be present during any interview. The adult will usually be a parent, family member, carer or social worker.
The police will then interview the suspect. If they decide they have enough evidence to consider charging the suspect, the police must then decide whether the case is one that they can charge themselves or whether it requires the approval of a Crown Prosecutor. In less serious, straightforward cases where the suspect admits the offence, the police are permitted to charge the suspect without first referring the case to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). In all other cases a Crown Prosecutor must review the case, decide on the correct charge and give their approval to the suspect being charged.
Once a suspect has been charged they must appear before a magistrates' court. The police have to decide whether to release them on bail or whether they should be taken to court in custody. In England and Wales a person is innocent until proven guilty in a court and so should not be kept in custody before trial unless there are good reasons for doing so.