Hi,

Any advice please send me.

I am a retail manager and while on secondment last year in Bradford I was involved in catching many shoplifters and writing statements.

I have no received a letter requesting me to go to court in bradford in April.

I am still with the same employer, Do my company have to pay me to go to court (ie not use a day off)? or would i have to take it as a day off and claim loss from the courts?

Your employer should pay you to go to court, especially as you were doing your job when you helped catch these people.

All employers have a legal obligation to allow you time off for Court attendance, similar to jury duty, if you are requested to attend court, you gotta do it, no questions.
If your employer advises you that you must take annual leave, then you can claim back expenses (including time off from work) on a form which will be handed to you by the witness service. If they dont give it to you, ask them for it when you or after you attend, there will be an office in the Court. Expenses include everything, travel, food, etc etc. You may have to provide receipts.
Good luck.:)

or would i have to take it as a day off and claim loss from the courts?
I don't think the court will pay you to turn up and give evidence, perhaps expenses but not loss of earnings.

All employers have a legal obligation to allow you time off for Court attendance, similar to jury duty, if you are requested to attend court, you gotta do it, no questions.
Is that *paid* time off from work?

If your employer requires you to attend court and give evidence for them, then it seems reasonable to me that you are attending court in your capacity as their employee. It therefore follows that they should be paying you in full for the time required including any out of pocket expenses, eg travel, phone calls (if they dont give you a mobile) and other subsistence entitlements eg meals and overnight accommodation if required.

Be prepared for a lot of hanging around.

I would expect your employer to pay. Please let us know what they say.

For general interest:

Ordinary witnesses

Witnesses may receive compensation for:

-travelling expenses;
-money spent on refreshments and meals;
-financial loss (e.g. loss of earnings);
-other expense incurred (e.g. childcare);

N.B. There are limits on the amounts payable;

-bus and train fares (standard fare) are normally repaid in full;
-travel by motor vehicle is paid at a rate per mile;
a higher rate per mile may be paid if it is necessary, as opposed to just convenient, to use a private motor vehicle;
- taxi fares are allowed where this was the only form of transport available or if a witness is disabled of infirm;
-set limits apply to refreshments and meals;

-maximum daily amounts apply to loss of earnings and other financial losses.

CPS Website (http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/section16/chapter_j.html#03)

I will keep you all informed. I will be back in work tomorrow so will find out what i am to do.

I better not mention anything else about the case as its ongoing. But will post a responce from my employer when I get one

FA

Just an update.

Work are giving me time to attend court at there expence

Lets just hope it takes best part of a day

Andy

I had to give evidence in court regarding a murder trial and a customer I had served in a shop - I got paid for my days work and offered the option of expenses. My area manager took me and bought me lunch though so I didn't bother.

It wasn't a very pleasant experience I'll be honest.:(

Just an update.

Work are giving me time to attend court at there expence

Lets just hope it takes best part of a day

Andy

It may take longer. A colleague of mine has had to go to give evidence in a road traffic accident case. He has been three times to court in Salford only for the case to be adjourned each time without him being called.

To say he was narked off is an understatement