Update during an active investigation

[ManaFleet]

I’m one of several people questioned some months about an alleged historic incident. I have no idea about the progress of the case, or whether I will be expected to testify if / when it goes to court.

Not knowing is making me very anxious. If it were to go to trial it would be a couple of hundred miles from home, which would mean hotels, travel, days off work for DH, etc. I have a very young (still breastfeeding) child and I’d like a little peace of mind.

My question is this: how can I find out about the progress of the case? If I ask my lawyer to call the investigating officer, it’ll cost me £250 in fees. Is it OK to call the officer myself directly or would that be interfering with the case?

Do you not have a contact within the police?
I had to give a witness statement once and I was given a contact name and number and the police wrote to me a couple of times with an update.

It's fine to ring the police for an update on the case, but as to whether you will be required to attend court or not, that decision will be made by the CPS and can change at the very last minute anyway, so I would just try to put it out of your mind for now.

That's really good to know - thank you both. I do have the phone number and email of the investigating officer who interviewed me.

I was worried that it might be against the rules (I know that sounds ridiculous) to contact them without going through the lawyer.

Interesting about court though... I suppose it's just fingers crossed then. I feel like I've been on hold for a long time. Nobody asked me not to make plans but we didn't go anywhere over the summer just in case I'd be needed, so it would be great to know if it were all over.

There is no issue at all contacting the investigating officer and they wouldn't expect you at all to go through a lawyer. Don't put your life on hold, carry on as normal.