In sensitive cases, you should ensure that the operational note is released immediately after the defendant has been served with the summons. You should then ring the Press Office to inform them, so that there is no gap between commencing proceedings and informing the press. The press should never be informed of proceedings before the defendant has received a summons. Matters are ‘sub-judice’ (i.e. the subject of court action) once the magistrate has signed the summons. It is vital that the Press Office is able to inform a journalist of this. There should be no delay in serving the summons to avoid any media speculation.
