Criminal defence lawyers London
If you or someone you know has been arrested the most important thing you can do is get legal advice before they are formally interviewed.
Do not be tempted to answer questions yourself. It’s not an admission of guilt. You are entitled to legal representation at the police station. It’s free and it could make the difference between being charged or not.
You can request Stryders solicitors by name. Our skilled and experienced team is available round the clock and we are highly respected for the work we do in dealing with both the police and court professionals.
What to do now, if you are arrested
- Get legal advice as soon as possible and certainly before you are interviewed by the police. You are entitled to legal representation no matter what time of the day or night.
- Tell the police at the station that you would like to be represented by Stryders Law and they must notify us.
- A relative or friend can also contact us on your behalf.
- Call our 24-hour emergency line on 0333 577 2999.
What happens after I have been arrested?
When you are booked into custody you will be asked if you would like legal advice. It is your fundamental right to access legal advice and it is free at the police station. If you nominate Stryders by name, the police will contact us on your behalf.
We work around the clock. Once you have nominated Stryders as your legal representative, we will liaise with the officers dealing with your case, ensure they keep us informed of progress and tell us when you are going to be interviewed.
The police cannot interview you or ask you any questions without your solicitor present so do not feel under any pressure.
Your Stryders solicitor will come and see you when they arrive at the police station. They will speak to the police to find out as much information as possible about the case against you. Then they will discuss your circumstances and the circumstances around the alleged offence and advise you fully in private before you go in for your official interview.
What happens during the police interview?
Our aim is to bring the matter to the best possible conclusion for you under the circumstances you find yourself in. We will explain the implications of all the options available, which might include accepting a caution, a community resolution, making a statement or deciding not to say anything at all.
We will be present with you in the interview room to advise and assist throughout. We cannot answer questions for you, but we can indicate whether you should answer a question or not and make sure the interview is carried out correctly and within the law.
After the interview, we will explain your next steps and you can choose whether you would like to retain our services to help you deal with any ongoing investigations or court appearances.
If you or your case is eligible for free legal advice, we can also make an application for legal aid to cover your future costs.
Why choose Stryders and not the duty solicitor?
The benefit of nominating Stryders is that you know you’re getting access to a firm with exceptional expertise and experience for whatever the type and seriousness of offence you are suspected of.
Our police station assistance is completely free and we make a point of following your case up with the police afterwards as part of the service. Not all duty solicitors do.
All of our solicitors have particular expertise in supporting young and vulnerable people caught up in the criminal justice system. We are a member of the Youth Justice Legal Centre.