If you are under investigation for perverting the course of justice, our solicitors for perverting the course of justice can act for you today. Woolfe & Co Solicitors are a specialist criminal defence law firm with over 20 years of experience, and we represent clients accused of concealing evidence, misleading the police and interfering with court proceedings across England and Wales. We advise early, we challenge weak evidence, and we protect your position from the very first police contact. Available 24/7 for urgent advice.
Perverting the course of justice is one of the most serious offences in English criminal law. It strikes at the heart of the justice system itself, which is exactly why courts treat it so severely. Our solicitors for perverting the course of justice deal with these allegations every week, and the first thing we tell every client is simple: do not speak to the police before you have taken advice.
We understand how frightening this allegation is. People often panic after being questioned about a relative, a partner or a friend, and they make decisions that turn a difficult situation into a catastrophic one. Whatever has happened, you are entitled to proper legal representation. Read on, or call our team now on 01582 380938.
Perverting the course of justice is a common law offence. It is committed when a person does an act, or a series of acts, that tends to pervert the course of justice and intends that outcome. The offence is deliberately broad, and it covers conduct that happens long before a case ever reaches a courtroom. Solicitors for perverting the course of justice therefore spend much of their time examining what a client is alleged to have intended, not just what they did.
There are two elements the prosecution must prove, and both are essential. First, that the act had a tendency to pervert the course of justice. Second, that you intended to pervert the course of justice. If either element is missing, the offence is not made out. That is why careful analysis of the evidence by an experienced court process offences solicitor can make a decisive difference.
The conduct must have a tendency to pervert the course of justice. The act does not need to succeed, and the prosecution does not have to prove that justice was actually perverted. A tendency is enough.
You must have intended to pervert the course of justice. Recklessness is not enough. A genuine mistake, a misunderstanding or a lack of knowledge can defeat the charge entirely.
Deleting messages, wiping a phone, disposing of clothing or hiding items that may be relevant to an investigation. Read our guide to mobile phone evidence.
Reporting an offence that did not happen, giving a false alibi, or deliberately misleading officers during an investigation.
Creating false documents, forging signatures, or producing evidence designed to support a false account in court proceedings.
Assisting someone to avoid arrest, hiding a suspect, or providing a false alibi for another person. This can overlap with conspiracy allegations.
Statement offences such as perjury and witness intimidation are closely related. If you are unsure which offence you are being investigated for, ask the police to confirm it and bring the answer to your first meeting with us.
The maximum penalty for perverting the course of justice is life imprisonment and an unlimited fine. Sentencing is governed by the Sentencing Council guideline, and the outcome turns on three main factors: the seriousness of the underlying offence, the culpability of the offender, and the harm caused. Our solicitors for perverting the course of justice have argued these cases at every level of the Crown Court.
| Category | Typical features | Likely sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Lesser culpability | A single impulsive act, limited planning, the underlying offence was less serious, and the conduct had little effect on the investigation | High level community order through to around 1 year in custody |
| Greater culpability | Some planning, an attempt to conceal evidence, or conduct that caused a real risk of a false prosecution | Custody in the range of about 1 to 3 years |
| Higher culpability | Sustained and elaborate planning, a serious underlying offence, or serious harm such as a wrongful conviction | Custody of 4 years and upwards, potentially far higher |
| Aggravating features | Offence committed while on bail, abuse of a position of trust, or involving a vulnerable victim in the original matter | A significant increase to the sentence within the relevant category |
There is an important practical point. A separate breach of bail or a failure to surrender to court charge frequently accompanies a perverting the course of justice allegation, and consecutive sentences can add many months. Dealing with every allegation together, at the earliest stage, is almost always the right strategy.
If the allegation arises from the original matter you were already facing, our overview of court representation solicitors explains how we defend cases at each stage.
The strongest defence usually attacks the intention. The prosecution must prove you meant to interfere with the course of justice. Cases often fail because a defendant simply did not know about an investigation, or acted for reasons entirely unconnected to it.
Where intention cannot realistically be disputed, our focus shifts to challenging the quality of the evidence and to powerful mitigation. We are always honest with clients about which approach is realistic.
If you did not know a police investigation or court case was underway, you cannot have intended to pervert it. This is a complete answer in many cases.
Some conduct, however misguided, has no real tendency to interfere with justice and therefore falls outside the offence altogether.
Intention must be proved, not assumed. Weak circumstantial evidence is often not enough to satisfy a jury beyond reasonable doubt.
Where digital evidence was obtained unlawfully, we apply to exclude it. Our search warrant solicitors challenge improper searches.
A word of warning. Do not attempt to fix the problem yourself. Further acts after you become aware of an investigation, such as deleting messages, can be charged as fresh offences and treated as aggravating features. Our page on phone passcode requests explains what to do instead.
Our approach is calm, methodical and focused on protecting you. Here is exactly what working with our criminal defence team looks like, from the first call to the final hearing.
We review the allegations, the evidence the police hold and the stage of the investigation, then explain your position in plain English. There is no charge for this first conversation.
We attend interviews, advise on what to say and provide a prepared statement where that is the strongest course. Police station advice is free, and police station representation is available 24 hours a day.
We examine disclosure, digital evidence, witness accounts and the precise act alleged. This is where cases are won, because the offence depends on proving intention, not just conduct.
We prepare submissions, argue legal points and present detailed mitigation if the case reaches sentence. We instruct leading counsel where the seriousness of the case demands it.
Yes. Perverting the course of justice is an offence for which Legal Aid is available, subject to a means assessment. Representation at the police station and for a first court appearance is generally free. Our free Legal Aid criminal defence solicitors can confirm your eligibility and explain the funding position honestly.
Check Fees and Legal AidThese are the questions our criminal defence solicitors are asked most often about perverting the course of justice. The answers are set out in full below.
Perverting the course of justice is a common law offence committed when someone does an act, or a series of acts, that tends to and is intended to pervert the course of public justice. It includes concealing evidence, giving false information to police, fabricating evidence and helping an offender avoid prosecution. Solicitors for perverting the course of justice deal with all of these variants.
The maximum penalty is life imprisonment and an unlimited fine. In practice, sentences follow the Sentencing Council guideline and depend on the seriousness of the underlying offence, the degree of planning and whether harm was caused. Most cases result in a custodial sentence of some length.
No. Perjury is a statutory offence of making a false statement while under oath in judicial proceedings. Perverting the course of justice is wider in scope and covers conduct both inside and outside the courtroom, such as concealing evidence or misleading police during an investigation.
Yes. Custody is the starting point for most perverting the course of justice cases. Only lower culpability cases, such as a single impulsive act with limited effect on the proceedings, are likely to avoid an immediate custodial sentence. Strong mitigation and early guilty pleas can reduce the length considerably.
This can be central to your defence. The offence requires an intention to pervert the course of justice. A solicitor will examine what you knew and when, because a genuine lack of awareness can undermine the prosecution case entirely. We obtain the disclosure needed to prove it.
Yes. Perverting the course of justice is an offence for which Legal Aid is available, subject to a means assessment. Police station advice is always free, and representation at the first court hearing is funded for eligible clients. Our team can assess your eligibility quickly.
Most cases take between 6 and 18 months from first arrest to sentence. Serious cases involving complex disclosure or multiple defendants can take longer, particularly where the trial is heard in the Crown Court. Our Crown Court solicitors manage timetables carefully to avoid unnecessary delay.
Never answer questions without legal advice. What you say can be used as evidence and can itself form the basis of a further allegation. A solicitor will consider a prepared statement or the right to silence depending on the evidence held. See our guide on whether you can remain silent when police ask questions.
Yes. Deleting messages, resetting a device or concealing items after you know of an investigation can be charged as perverting the course of justice and is treated as an aggravating feature at sentence. Preserve everything and take legal advice before doing anything. Our guide on WhatsApp messages as evidence explains more.
Yes, and this is when advice matters most. Early representation can shape the investigation, prevent damaging statements and sometimes persuade the police that there is insufficient evidence to charge. It is far easier to influence a case before charge than after.
Assisting an offender is a separate statutory offence under the Criminal Law Act 1967 and applies to helping someone who has committed a relevant offence. Perverting the course of justice is broader in scope and can apply where no such offence has yet been committed. Both carry serious penalties.
We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can usually advise the same day. Call 01582 380938 and speak directly to a criminal defence solicitor.
We are a Luton based criminal defence firm with more than 20 years of experience, and our solicitors appear in courts across England and Wales every week. Perverting the course of justice is a specialist area that rewards careful legal analysis rather than a generic defence. You speak to a qualified criminal defence solicitor from the first call, never a call centre.
We build the defence around disclosure, not excuses. Careful analysis of what the prosecution actually holds is what wins these cases.
Arrests and interviews do not wait for office hours. Call at any time and reach a solicitor who can act straight away.
We hold legal aid contracts and can fund these cases for eligible clients, so cost should never stop you getting representation.
We are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and hold recognised criminal defence accreditations. Read more about our accreditations and memberships.
"In my years defending these cases, the pattern is always the same. A person panics, says too much in interview, and turns a weak allegation into a strong one. Getting a solicitor involved before that interview is the single most valuable thing you can do."
Senior Criminal Defence Solicitor, Woolfe & Co Solicitors
A perverting the course of justice allegation rarely stands alone. Our criminal defence solicitors support clients across the whole of the court process, from the police station to the Crown Court.
Breach of bail, perjury, witness intimidation, contempt of court and perverting the course of justice allegations.
Defence for breach of court orders, committal hearings and contempt of court allegations.
Defence for intimidating or pressuring witnesses and jurors under section 39 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.
Defence for false statements made under oath under the Perjury Act 1911, in criminal and civil proceedings.
Defence for breaking bail conditions such as curfews, residence requirements and reporting conditions.
Defence for missing a court date or failing to answer bail under section 6 of the Bail Act 1976.
Jury trial advocacy, sentencing and appeals, as perverting the course of justice is tried only at the Crown Court.
Free 24/7 legal advice and representation during police interviews and custody, where these cases are often decided.
Challenging unlawful warrants, seizures and production orders that produce the evidence relied upon.
How police lawfully access phone data, and how to challenge evidence obtained improperly.
Representation at first hearings, sending hearings and bail applications before a case reaches the Crown Court.
A full guide to how criminal defence solicitors and barristers build a defence from arrest to appeal.
Do not wait to be arrested. Our solicitors for perverting the course of justice are available 24 hours a day and can advise you on your position right now. Early advice protects your liberty, your reputation and your future.
Woolfe & Co Solicitors, criminal defence solicitors in Luton, representing clients across England and Wales. Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.