First steps
Take the following steps promptly and preserve a clear record.
- Record who contacted you, the police unit, and the scheduled time
- Preserve the summons, messages, and a basic chronology
- Obtain legal advice before providing a substantive account
Avoid these mistakes
Actions taken under stress can create additional legal or evidentiary problems.
- Do not ignore the summons
- Do not coordinate accounts with others
- Do not delete messages or files
Documents to preserve
Keep the complete originals and work from copies where possible.
- The summons or message
- Relevant communications
- A concise event chronology
Individual advice
This checklist is general. The correct response depends on the specific decision, evidence, deadline, and authority involved.