Expert Legal Support from the Moment You Need It Most
Being arrested or asked to attend a police station for questioning is one of the most frightening and disorientating experiences a person can face. The decisions made in those first few hours — and the words spoken in interview — can have a profound and lasting impact on the outcome of your case.
At Sampson Bailey Solicitors, we provide immediate, expert police station representation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether you have been arrested, are attending voluntarily, or have been asked to answer questions under caution, we will be at your side — protecting your rights, challenging improper conduct, and ensuring you say nothing that could harm your case.
Many people do not realise that you have an absolute right to free, independent legal advice at the police station — regardless of your income, the nature of the allegation, or whether you have been arrested or are attending voluntarily. This right is guaranteed under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) and the PACE Codes of Practice.
The police must inform you of this right. If they fail to do so, or attempt to discourage you from seeking legal advice, this may be a serious breach of your rights — and one we will challenge.
You should never attend a police station interview without a solicitor, no matter how minor you believe the allegation to be, or how confident you feel in explaining yourself. Police interviews are formal, recorded processes. Anything you say — or do not say — can and will be used in any subsequent prosecution.
If you have been arrested, the police have the power to detain you for:
During detention, you have the right to:
You may be asked to attend the police station voluntarily, meaning:
Important: Do not attend without legal advice
Whether arrested or attending voluntarily, you will likely be interviewed under caution:
The caution has serious legal implications:
The nature of the allegation will affect how the interview is conducted, what evidence the police may have, and what strategy we adopt on your behalf. We have extensive experience representing clients in police station interviews across all categories of offence.
Whatever the allegation, our approach is the same — thorough, strategic, and entirely focused on protecting your position.
Early expert representation from the police station onwards can mean the difference between prosecution and no further action.
Attending without a solicitor exposes you to serious risks:
Early, well-advised engagement can result in the matter going no further at all. Our presence from the very beginning makes a measurable difference.
Depending on the evidence and the conduct of the investigation, possible outcomes include:
Additional possible outcomes:
We advise on each outcome and transition seamlessly into full criminal defence representation if a charge is brought.
If you have been arrested, you must attend. If you are invited voluntarily, you are not legally obliged to attend — but declining to attend may affect how the investigation proceeds. We can advise you on the best course of action before you make any decision.
Yes. You have an absolute right to free, independent legal advice at the police station under PACE. This right applies regardless of your income or the seriousness of the allegation. There is no means test for police station advice.
Yes. You have the right to request a named solicitor of your choice. If you request Sampson Bailey Solicitors, the police must make reasonable efforts to contact us. If we are temporarily unavailable, you should wait — do not proceed with a duty solicitor if you want your own representation.
This depends entirely on the specific circumstances of your case — the evidence the police have, the nature of the allegation, and your individual position. There is no one-size-fits-all answer. We will advise you fully after reviewing the disclosure provided by the police.
A prepared statement is a written document read into the interview record that sets out your account or position without submitting to open questioning. It can be an effective alternative to a full interview in certain circumstances. We draft these with precision and deploy them strategically.
We provide 24/7 emergency police station representation. Call us at any time and we will respond immediately. Being arrested outside of business hours makes no difference to your right to legal advice or our availability.
Not if you have requested legal advice and your solicitor has not yet arrived, save in exceptional circumstances. The police must wait a reasonable period for your solicitor unless a specific legal exception applies. We will challenge any attempt to circumvent your right to representation.
If you are charged, we will advise you on the next steps immediately. We represent clients at all levels of court — from the Magistrates' Court through to the Crown Court — and will continue as your legal team throughout the proceedings.
Yes. While it is always better to have representation from the outset, we can still build a strong defence. We will review the interview record, assess what was said, and develop a strategy that addresses the circumstances of the interview and any subsequent evidence.
The first hours of a police investigation are the most critical. Early, expert legal advice can mean the difference between a prosecution and no further action — between a conviction and an acquittal. Do not wait. Do not attend without us.
Or complete our online form and a member of our criminal defence team will respond immediately.
