If you have been arrested or asked to attend a voluntary interview at a police station, you have an automatic, unconditional right to free Legal Aid police station representation. This right belongs to every person in England and Wales, regardless of income, savings, employment status, or the nature of the allegation. At Woolfe & Co Solicitors, our criminal defence solicitors attend police stations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to protect your interests at what is often the most critical stage of any criminal case.
What you say, or choose not to say, during a police interview can determine whether you are charged, what you are charged with, and the entire course of any future prosecution. Do not attend a police interview without a solicitor. Call 01582 380938 and a specialist criminal lawyer will be with you as soon as possible.
Free Legal Aid police station representation is the legal right of every person arrested or invited to a voluntary interview under caution to have a solicitor present at the police station, free of charge. The solicitor's role is to advise you before and during the interview, ensure the police conduct the investigation lawfully, and protect your legal rights throughout the custody process.
This right is enshrined in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and is funded by the Legal Aid Agency. There is no means test, no eligibility assessment, and no financial contribution required from you. Our criminal defence lawyers attend police stations across England and Wales at any time of day or night.
When you call, a police station solicitor is dispatched immediately to attend your location. We aim to reach any police station in our coverage area within hours of receiving your call. Our lawyers are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Before any interview takes place, your solicitor obtains disclosure from the police about the nature of the allegations and the evidence they hold. This ensures you understand the case against you before answering any questions.
Your solicitor speaks with you in private before the interview. This conversation is confidential and protected by legal professional privilege. You can discuss the allegations openly and your solicitor will advise on the best approach.
Your solicitor sits beside you throughout the police interview. They can intervene if questions are improper, clarify your answers, and ensure the interview is conducted fairly and in accordance with PACE Code C.
Your solicitor monitors the entire custody process including detention reviews, the taking of samples, identification procedures, and any searches. We ensure the police comply with their legal obligations throughout your detention.
After the interview, your solicitor makes representations to the custody officer regarding bail, disposal options, and charging decisions. We continue to represent you if the case proceeds to court.
The police interview is not a casual conversation. It is a formal evidence-gathering process conducted under caution, meaning anything you say can be used as evidence against you in court. The decisions made at the police station often set the direction of the entire case. Having an experienced criminal solicitor present can fundamentally alter the outcome.
Getting a solicitor to attend the police station is straightforward. You have two ways to request representation, and both are completely free. The process is designed to get a criminal defence lawyer to you as quickly as possible.
If you have been arrested, tell the custody sergeant you want Woolfe & Co Solicitors to represent you. You can ask for us by name. The police are legally obliged to contact us on your behalf. You have the right to speak to a solicitor in private at any point during your detention. If you are attending a voluntary interview, you can call us directly before you attend.
You or a family member can call 01582 380938 at any time. Our phones are answered 24/7 by a qualified criminal defence solicitor, not a call centre. You can also contact us through WhatsApp for police station assistance. We will take your details and a solicitor will begin travelling to your location immediately.
A specialist police station solicitor attends your location, usually within hours. They speak to the police to obtain disclosure of the allegations and evidence. They then speak to you privately to take your instructions and advise on the best approach to the interview. This consultation is confidential and completely protected.
After the interview, your police station solicitor continues to represent your interests. We make representations to the custody officer about bail, charging decisions, and any other matters affecting your case. If the case proceeds to the Magistrates Court or Crown Court, we continue to act for you through Legal Aid where you qualify.
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and bank holidays
Most people do not anticipate needing a police station solicitor. Whether you have been arrested unexpectedly or have been asked to attend a voluntary interview, free Legal Aid police station representation is your right. Here are the common situations where our criminal defence lawyers provide support.
If police have arrested you at your home, workplace, or in public, you have an immediate right to free police station representation. Ask the arresting officers to contact Woolfe & Co Solicitors.
Also called a "caution plus 3" interview, this is where you are invited to attend the police station voluntarily. Despite being voluntary, it carries the same legal significance as an arrest interview. Read what to do if police contact you.
If police attend your property with a search warrant or an arrest warrant, you are entitled to free police station representation once arrested. Learn about police warrants.
If you have been released under investigation and the police want to conduct a further interview, you have the same right to free representation as you did at the initial interview.
Young people under 18 have additional protections at the police station, including the right to have an appropriate adult present. Free police station representation is available to all young people. See Youth Court representation.
When you are in police custody, the solicitor you choose matters. Here is why individuals across England and Wales trust Woolfe & Co Solicitors for free Legal Aid police station representation.
Arrests and interviews happen at all hours. Our police station solicitors are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends, bank holidays, and Christmas Day. We never close.
We understand that time in custody is stressful. Our solicitors mobilise immediately to reach you as quickly as possible. We prioritise police station attendance above everything else.
We attend police stations across the whole of England and Wales. Based in Luton, Bedfordshire, our solicitors travel to stations throughout the country. See our full coverage area.
We are not general practitioners. Every solicitor at Woolfe & Co is a criminal defence specialist. We handle police station representation every day and understand exactly how to protect your position. Explore our criminal defence work.
When you instruct Woolfe & Co at the police station, the same firm can continue to represent you if your case goes to court. There is no handover to an unfamiliar solicitor. See our court representation services.
We explain everything in plain English: what the police are alleging, what the evidence means, your options, and our recommendations. You will never be left in the dark about what is happening or why.
If you or someone you know has been arrested or asked to attend a police interview, do not delay. Your right to free police station representation is automatic and unconditional. One call to 01582 380938 puts a specialist criminal defence solicitor on their way to you. The police interview is too important to face alone.
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and bank holidays