Behind the tape

Expert advice to get the details right in your crime fiction, from serving police officer Lisa Cutts

QAThe police should be in contact with the suspect’s defence team to agree on whether the body can be released. The defence team may wish to have their own post mortem examination carried out and is usually agreed before the trial.

QA character in my current work in progress has been charged with murder. How soon after that would they appear in court?

AFollowing charge, the suspect will have to appear in a Magistrates Court the next day. After this initial appearance at court, there is a Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing which then takes place at the Crown Court. This is usually within 28 days. There then follows a series of further hearings and dates being set at court between both parties. The trial itself will start within six months and depending on the evidence and number of witnesses, may go on for weeks or even for months.

QIf someone is found murdered, would the funeral be allowed before the trial?

My novel involves a police officer character being suspended from work. Would they be likely to be suspended for lying about where they were when they were on duty and the times they were supposed to be working?

Kyle Saunders, by email

ARichard Graham, by email

K Little, by email

It isn’t as straightforward as someone being suspended for lying, although it does come down to an honesty and integrity issue and may very well result in the officer losing their job as a result. Suspension depends on the circumstances and whether the officer could be usefully deployed elsewhere. As long as they are removed from the evidential chain, which could cause problems further along the line if dishonesty if proved, they may well remain at work. This varies from police force to police force and will sometimes vary depending on who is authorising the suspension. The rationale behind that is that it is of more benefit to keep someone gainfully employed, especially if they are on full pay, than allowing them to take a wage and not work. No doubt whilst the investigation is ongoing, there will be some sort of restrictions placed on their working day, such as not to work with certain colleagues if they have provided evidence against them.