When a witness is served with a witness summons, they must be offered or paid a sum of money that is sufficient to cover their travel expenses to the court and back to their home or place of work. They should also receive some compensation for their loss of time.
If you need to arrange for childcare you can claim up to £67 for each day that you’re in court to cover the cost of paying for childcare. If you take your children to court with you, you’ll need to bring a friend or relative with you to look after them – children under 14 years of age aren’t allowed into the courtroom unless they’re giving evidence. Check to see if the court you’re going to has baby changing facilities if you need them.
If a witness does not comply with a summons, they may be liable to a fine in County Court proceedings, or fined and imprisoned for contempt by a High Court. If your employer has said they won’t give you time off, the court could give you the summons to show your employer.
If you need help to prepare an oral or written statement, contact Citizens Advice or ourselves for assistance.
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