Am I entitled to a solicitor in the police station?
If you are due to be interviewed by the police, you are entitled to free legal representation by the duty solicitor. You can also opt to pay for a pre-arranged, private firm of solicitors like Forrest Williams to represent you in interview and fully manage your case and you can read about the difference between private representation and free representation here.
This is a nationwide right for all people, regardless of your age, your income, or the type of matter you are being investigated for.
Arranging your police station representation can be done in several ways.
If you have advance notice of your interview date, you can contact solicitors and book the interview in their diary. This can either be a Legal Aid firm, or a private firm.
If you are arrested and interviewed with no advance warning, you are still entitled to representation by a solicitor or accredited representative in the police station. This is the case even on weekends, and out of office hours. The service is 24 days a week, 365 days a year. The police will ask if you want legal representation, and if you have a particular representative (such as a former solicitor) who you want contacting.
You should always seek legal representation for your police interview.
Once your representative has been called to attend, you will most likely be placed in a cell to wait for their arrival. If this has not been pre-arranged, you may have to wait a considerable time but you should not be tempted to proceed without them because of the wait.
Your representative will be able to liaise with the police to discuss the case and obtain some disclosure. If you pre-arrange private representation, we will liaise with the police before the interview date to secure disclosure and take a full statement from you in response to this.
You will be able to proceed in interview by either:
- answering questions fully
- answering “no comment” to all questions
- preparing a written statement instead of answering questions
Your legal representative will be able to advise you on the best way to proceed in interview.
Legal representation in your police interview is your best way to protect yourself, whether you intend to accept or deny the allegations against you.
If you would like to benefit from our in-depth and proactive private police station representation, call us now on 01623 397200.
