Police Station Solicitors

Our comprehensive service includes representation at all stages of the criminal process – from attending the police station after arrest, to appearing at bail and committal hearings in the Magistrates’ Court, through to preparing cases for trial in both the Magistrates’ and Crown Courts in London and throughout England and Wales.

Police Station Interviews

What happens in interview under caution at the police station often determines the outcome of a criminal case. The interview is taped so its content is a matter of record. There is a right to silence, but in some circumstances its exercise can be criticised; a lawyer’s skill and experience under pressure is vitally important. Getting it right in the police station is not optional.

Our elite private crime team can assist you at the police station at a fee to be agreed.

A person charged with a criminal offence always makes their first appearance in a Magistrates’ Court. We have a team of Magistrates’ Court advocates who are in the main London Magistrates’ Courts most days and offer the highest quality representation and advice.

“Attendance” at a police station may be a little euphemistic, but not all those who are questioned at the police station are there because they have been arrested – some people attend voluntarily.

Arrest

Officers (both plain clothed and uniform) can arrest an individual anywhere provided that they have reasonable grounds to suspect that you have committed, are going to commit or are in fact committing, an offence. On arrest you can expect an officer (if they are doing their jobs properly) to tell you that they are an officer, that you are under arrest, what you are under arrest for and why it is necessary to arrest you.

Having formally arrested you, officers should caution you as follows:
“You do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned, something that you later rely on in Court”.
Ordinarily you will then be handcuffed, placed in a police van and taken to the nearest police station.

Voluntary

When police are acting from ‘tip-offs’ or in more minor allegations where the formality of an arrest is not necessary, they will offer you the opportunity to attend the police station for interview. Colloquially known as a ‘caution plus three’, you can expect to be interviewed under caution (above) but with three benefits: you may leave at any time, you are not under arrest and you may have a lawyer to assist you.

So what’s to stop you walking off when you choose? Nothing technically, but the option of a formal arrest remains. Often a voluntary interview is the police’s way of demonstrating that they are doing things the ‘easy way’ rather than the ‘hard way’ but do not be fooled; an interview under caution is the same regardless of whether it’s as a result of voluntary or forced attendance.

If you have a question as to the legality of an arrest or whether you need a solicitor at the police station, we at Saunders have decades of experience assisting all manner of suspects at this early stage and are happy to answer any questions that you may have. Our elite private crime team is acknowledged at the best in the business and we always offer a free, no obligation meeting.

Expert Criminal Defence Lawyers

Whether a case stays in the Magistrates’ Court or is transferred to the Crown Court we allocate one lawyer to each case, who provides the continuity that clients need. We give our clients a service that is personal to them.

At times of stress clients do not want to have to be dealing with a different person every time they call or come into the office – the call centre is no part of our business model.