A solicitor can provide you with vital legal advice and support during police questioning. They can help ensure that your rights are protected, and that you are treated fairly during the questioning process.
A solicitor can also help you to understand the questions being asked of you, and can provide advice on how to answer them. This is especially important if you are feeling under pressure, or if you have been arrested and are feeling nervous about the situation.
It is important to remember that you have the right to remain silent during police questioning, and that anything you say can be used as evidence against you in court. If you do not have a solicitor present, it is important to ask for one as soon as possible.
What a solicitor can do for you if you are arrested
When you are arrested, the police must tell you that you can have free legal advice from a solicitor at any time. They will also give you a list of local solicitors who provide this service.
If you ask for a solicitor, the police must contact one for you and they will usually be able to see you within a few hours. The solicitor will give you confidential legal advice and be able to help with things like:
– telling you what will happen next
– asking the police questions on your behalf
– taking notes of what is said during interviews
– arranging for someone to be with you during interviews if this would help you
– speaking to the prosecutor in charge of your case
The benefits of having a solicitor present during a police interview
If you are suspected of a crime, you may be invited to attend a police interview under caution. This means that the police officers conducting the interview believe that you may be involved in the commission of a crime, and anything you say during the interview could be used as evidence against you should the case go to court.
It is therefore vital that you have legal representation present during any police interview, so that your solicitor can advise you on what to say (and what not to say) in order to protect your interests. Your solicitor will also be able to challenge any questions asked by the police if they believe that they are unfair or irrelevant.
In addition, having a solicitor present during a police interview can help to ensure that the entire process is conducted fairly and within the bounds of the law. If you do not have a solicitor present and there are any irregularities in the way the interview is conducted, this could potentially lead to your conviction being overturned on appeal.
