If you have the misfortune to be arrested or invited to the police station for an interview there are a number of matters which you should remember. When you are arrested, the Police Officer will say the caution to you. The most significant part of the caution is the first sentence “You do not have to say anything.” You are then conveyed to the nearest custody unit which may well be some miles away because the numbers of units are being reduced rapidly in favour of large purpose built units. They are not friendly environments since you have been alleged to have committed an offence. On the way to the police station do not talk to the police officers taking you there or the people in the custody unit about the reason why you are there. You are obliged however to give the following information; your full name, address, date and place of birth and Nationality. Do not talk to them about the reason for being there. If you do they will write it out and you will be asked to confirm the statement. This is called a significant statement and you will be asked to sign it confirming that its contents are accurate and it may well be very embarrassing in the subsequent interview.
When you arrive at the police station one of the questions you will be asked is whether you want the services of the duty solicitor. The answer is YES. All solicitors firms who hold the Legal Aid Criminal Advice Certificate will be able in most cases to attend the police station within 45 minutes and at the very latest 90 minutes. Their job is to get you out of there as quickly as possible with minimal damage from an evidential nature. It does not matter what day or time is it as the service is 24/7. If you are told that it will inhibit the investigation do not believe it, but tell your solicitor.
This assistance will cost you NOTHING while you remain at the police station and in respect of bail application. Most people who are arrested are released within 24 hours. There are a number of disposals which go as follows, No Further Action, Cautions, and Bail to return to the police station at a date and time indicated in the bail sheet. Bail can be subject to conditions which specify many restrictive conditions The new one out is where you are, Released but remain Under Investigation (RUI) The police do not have sufficient evidence to charge you with any offence but you remain a person of interest. It cannot be conditional in connection to where you live and who you can see. The sting in the tail is that they if they find sufficient evidence and can come back and arrest you.
In simple terms the advice for today is if you are invited to a police station or arrested or are required to make statement under caution, say NOTHING but ask for the duty solicitor instead.
Call us on 01249 444484 to see how we can help you.
