Criminal Defence

We are not a legal aid firm and we charge for our time after the initial call. You may well be entitled to Legal Aid, therefore, if finances are an issue, please speak to a legal aid firm.

For more information take a look at our videos on our YouTube channel.

We say….

If you are being accused of an offence, you may first be contacted by the complainant, family or the police. Regardless of how you are made aware of the allegation, from that moment every step you take needs to be considered carefully.

You must not talk to the police without a solicitor…why? Because they suspect you of a crime.

Clients that have been contacted by the police and attended an interview without a solicitor often say:

• I didn’t think I had anything to worry about as I did nothing wrong.
• I wasn’t guilty and having a solicitor would make me look guilty.
• I was told in the police station that it would be quicker without waiting for a solicitor.
• I liked the police officers, they were very friendly and I trusted them.
• I couldn’t have the Solicitor I wanted so I just had the one that came then straight into the interview.

Not having support before the police station and at the police station could be detrimental to your case. Preparation is the first thing for you to consider and the key to any defence you have.

A bad start to any matter is very hard, if not impossible to correct; the comments from the outset are the foundations of the entire matter, and so a Solicitor that knows the rules and understands the process can consider the entire matter with you – this is essential.

What should you do – the checklist.

As soon as you know there is an allegation you must:

1. Speak to a solicitor. We would say us, but it’s your choice – remember we are privately funded and not legal aid.
2. Do not speak to the police other than to confirm who you are.

Voluntary Interview

If you are contacted by the police to attend a voluntary interview, do not think this is any less serious than being arrested as it is not.

Arrested

If you are arrested, say nothing other than who you are and that you want a solicitor.

What you shouldn’t do.

Do not tell the officer any facts of the case, take their details and tell them you will be back to them shortly as you intend to speak to your solicitor.

If arrested, the same applies however you ask for your solicitor and say nothing until that person arrives. You may have to wait a while, but that shouldn’t stop you from getting representation.

Please note: everything is recorded by the officer, if not on camera or another recording, then in the officer’s notebook. All of which will be evidence against you if charges are brought. If you had advance notice of the allegations through family or friends then you should find a solicitor to represent you ahead of time.

Pass the details of the officer to the solicitor and allow them to speak to the Police to find out what is going on and who is saying what. This is called advance disclosure, the police will not give this to you and when they speak to the solicitor they very rarely give all the information over but instead like to raise it in the interview. Your solicitor will know where the officers are going and that is essential for you before entering the interview. Please take into consideration that the police would have had a considerable amount of time to prepare for the interview and you would have very little. Remember, everything you say will be used against you if the matter progresses to court. This also includes not answering questions – so using a no-comment interview needs to be very carefully considered.

Any comments relevant to the allegation and made by you can be classed as evidence. This goes for comments made on social media.

Say nothing on social media, to anyone in person, or to the people who may be complaining about you.