Does it make me look guilty if I take a solicitor to the police station?
In short, the answer is no. It does not make you look guilty if you take a solicitor to the police station. In fact, you always should.
Let’s look at the reasons why.
It’s your legal right
In law, you have a right to legal representation during a police interview. The police will actually expect you to have a solicitor present. It shows that you know your rights and that you’re taking the process seriously.
Your solicitor is on your side
Any solicitor who acts for you is under a duty to act in your best interests. That means that they are on your side in this process. Being interviewed by the police can be quite a daunting process, so it’s often a comfort to know that there is somebody in your corner while the police ask you questions.
Your solicitor will help you avoid any unintentional admissions of guilt. Sometimes, police may misunderstand or misrepresent what you’re saying, and the solicitor will clarify it to protect you.
Your solicitor is also there to make sure that the whole process is carried out lawfully. Police have to follow a specific procedure during interviews and the solicitor will keep them on the straight and narrow so that they can’t intimidate you, or cut corners in their questioning. You solicitor can stand up for you and tell the police if there is insufficient evidence to charge you.
Finally, a solicitor can guide you through the whole process. If you’ve never been interviewed by the police before, it can be a bit disorienting to know what will happen next and what all the terminology means. Your solicitor can explain the process and tell you what’s happening and why.
“But I’m innocent. Only guilty people need a solicitor”
We understand why people say this. You think that if you’re innocent, you don’t need representation.
But even if you think you’ve done nothing wrong, please do call a solicitor. Sometimes, even honest answers can be misconstrued and taken out of context. Or you might be caught up in more of a grey area than you realise. Perhaps you were guilty of a crime, that you weren’t aware was a crime, but it’s not as serious a crime as the police are accusing you of.
It’s always worth having a legal expert in your corner for an interview.
Should I ask for the Duty Solicitor?
The police will ask you if you want a solicitor present. Sometimes people panic at this stage because they don’t know any solicitors they can call.
If you don’t know who to ask for, ask for the Duty Solicitor. These are solicitors who are on call (on rotation) 24/7 and they will come down to the police station at any time of day to represent you free of charge.
You can ask for an expert at Harewood Law
Alternatively, you can ask for one of our experts at Harewood Law. We have a vast array of experience in representing clients at police interviews and we would be happy to represent you.
Our emergency number for police station attendance only is 0333 344 8366. Please give us a call and we will attend your interview with you and protect your rights.