If you are interviewed at a police station, you have a legal right to speak to a solicitor, whether over the phone or in person at the police station. The advice and guidance your solicitor gives you at this stage can make a significant difference to the outcome of your case, and so we urge you to exercise this right.
Our expert team at MJS provide a complete legal service, from advising clients at police interviews to delivering robust representation should the case proceed to court. We are committed to protecting your legal rights at all stages and securing the best possible outcome for you. Contact us today to find out more about our criminal defence services.
What is my right to legal advice at a police station?
Before you are questioned by the police, you will be informed of your right to take free legal advice from a solicitor. If you decide to exercise this right, except in pressing circumstances – such as to prevent someone being hurt – the police officers cannot question you until you have received advice.
You can decline legal advice, and, if you do, you may change your mind later. However, there are some circumstances where you will be unable to refuse to have your solicitor present, for example, if you are under the age of 18.
Your lawyer can speak to you privately, either on the phone or in person, at any time while you remain in police custody. You can also request to have a solicitor in the room with you while you are being questioned.
How will a solicitor help me at a police station?
Regardless of whether you speak to your solicitor over the phone or face to face, they will provide you with essential legal advice on the charges against you, your rights while being held in police custody and being questioned and they will ensure the process followed by the police when interviewing you is fair and respects your rights.
It is important for anyone in police custody to remember that speaking to a solicitor does not make you look guilty. It is a fundamental right that you should exercise to protect your interests. Your answers given during police questioning can be used against you in court proceedings, which is why advice from a criminal defence solicitor is so important at this early and crucial stage of a criminal investigation. Our criminal defence solicitors are here to support you right away, and we will work hard to reduce the impact of an arrest or charge on your life.
Contact our Criminal Defence Lawyers Scotland
If you require legal advice or support after being accused of a crime, it is important to act fast. Our criminal defence solicitors can assist by providing fast, reliable advice when you need it most. We offer a complete legal service, from advice at the police station through to representing you in court. Call our criminal defence lawyers for a free, initial consultation in Dunfermline on 01383 730 466, Kirkcaldy on 01592 640 680 or Alloa on 01259 725 922, or make an online enquiry.