Criminal Defence Solicitors & Barristers
Free Police Station Representation
You have the right to free legal advice when/if the police want to talk to you. Call us on 07922247999, available 24/7
Know Your Rights
From the moment you arrive at the station, you have specific legal protections under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE). You have the right to:
- Free legal advice from a solicitor at any time.
- Tell someone where you are, such as a friend or family member.
- Look at the "Codes of Practice", which are the rules the police must follow.
- Medical help if you are feeling unwell or injured.
- Food and water, and a minimum of 8 hours of rest in every 24-hour period.
- An interpreter if English is not your first language.
Answering Questions
You do not have to say anything.
The law gives you the right to silence, and you should not answer any questions—including "informal chats"—without a solicitor present.
Anything you say can be used as evidence against you in court. A solicitor’s job is to see the police evidence first and then tell you if it is safer to answer, stay silent ("no comment"), or provide a "prepared statement" in writing.
Talking without a lawyer can lead to you accidentally saying something that makes you look guilty, even if you are innocent.
Does a Solicitor need to be Present In-Person?
A solicitor can be with you in person or remotely.
While having a solicitor stand next to you in the interview room is the standard, modern technology in 2026 allows for legal support via video link or telephone if it is more urgent.
If the police are ready to interview you and your chosen lawyer is far away, they can often join the interview through a secure screen to ensure your rights are protected without making you wait in a cell for hours.
Legal Aid
Legal advice at the police station is completely free for everyone.
You do not need to worry about the cost, and it does not matter how much money you earn. This is a "non-means-tested" right, meaning the government pays for your solicitor at the station regardless of your situation.
You can ask for the Duty Solicitor, who is the lawyer available at the station right now, or you can ask the police to call your own private solicitor.
Call Us Now For 24/7 police station representation
We are available at anytime to represent you in a police station, use the number below to call us now.
Addressing concerns and common questions
The information below is for educational purposes, and not legal advice, all cases are unique and should be treated as such.
No. Except in very rare, extreme cases, the police must wait for your solicitor to arrive or join via video before they can start questioning you.
No. A voluntary interview (Caution Plus 3) is just as serious. You are still being questioned under caution, and anything you say can lead to a criminal record.
No. Your phone will usually be taken from you and kept in a locker or seized as evidence. The police will allow you to make one phone call using their landline.
For most crimes, the police can keep you for up to 24 hours. They must then either charge you with a crime, release you on bail, or release you under investigation.
You can change your mind at any time. If you have already started an interview, tell the officer: "I want a solicitor now." They must stop the interview immediately.