About Southwark Crown Court
Southwark Crown Court is at 1 English Grounds, off Battlebridge Lane, Southwark SE1 2HU. The building has interview rooms, video link facilities, a witness service and disabled access. We meet you before each hearing, work with the barrister we instruct and keep you updated on every deadline. Southwark Crown Court hears many of the country’s largest fraud and financial crime cases, including Serious Fraud Office prosecutions.
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What happens at the Crown Court
Cases reach the Crown Court when they are too serious for the magistrates or when you choose a jury trial. The first hearing is usually the plea and trial preparation hearing, where you enter your plea and the judge sets the timetable for the case. Before trial we review the prosecution evidence, serve the defence statement, pursue disclosure and instruct experts where they are needed. Early preparation often decides the outcome.
How we help at court
We prepare before the hearing, take your instructions at court, apply for bail where it is needed, negotiate with the prosecution and present your case or mitigation. Where a barrister is needed, we instruct one we trust and stay involved from start to finish. If your case starts with a police investigation, we can act from the police station onwards.