Contact a Police Station Solicitor Through WhatsApp

If you are in custody, the police may have taken your phone. However, you still have the right to legal advice. Ask the custody officer to contact Woolfe & Co Solicitors on your behalf — they must arrange this for you. Alternatively, a family member or friend can contact a police station solicitor through WhatsApp for you. Simply provide your name, the police station location, and that you need a solicitor to attend.

Yes. Under the police station advice scheme, all legal advice and representation at the police station is completely free — regardless of your financial situation. This is funded by legal aid and does not depend on your income or savings. You will never be charged for a solicitor to attend the police station, advise you privately, and represent you during interview. If your case proceeds to court, we will discuss costs with you separately and advise whether legal aid continues to be available.

If you are unsure of the exact police station, use WhatsApp's location-sharing feature to send your current location to a solicitor. Even without the station name, this allows us to identify where you are and arrange attendance. If you are in custody and cannot access your phone, ask the custody officer which station you are at — they must tell you — and pass this information to whoever is contacting a solicitor on your behalf.

In most cases, no. Under PACE Code C, the police must allow you to speak with a solicitor in private before any interview takes place. The police may only begin an interview without a solicitor in very limited circumstances — for example, where there is an immediate risk to life or serious harm. Even then, a senior officer must authorise the decision. A solicitor from Woolfe & Co will challenge any attempt to interview you without legal representation present.

Be completely honest with your solicitor. Everything you tell a criminal defence solicitor is confidential and protected by legal professional privilege — it cannot be passed to the police or used against you. Explain exactly what has happened, including any information you think may harm your case. A solicitor can only give you the best advice if they know the full picture. Never hide information from your solicitor — it can seriously undermine your defence.

Yes. You have the right to choose your own solicitor rather than using the duty solicitor provided by the police station. If you contact Woolfe & Co through WhatsApp, we will attend the police station as your chosen solicitor. The police must respect your choice and allow your chosen solicitor to attend — they cannot force you to use the duty solicitor simply because they are already at the station.

The standard maximum detention period without charge is 24 hours. This can be extended to 36 hours by a police superintendent for serious offences, and up to 96 hours by a magistrates court for the most serious cases. A police station solicitor will monitor the detention clock and challenge any unnecessary delays. If the police cannot justify continued detention, your solicitor can make representations for your release on bail or without charge.

After the interview, the police have several options: they may charge you with an offence, release you under investigation (RUI), release you on police bail with conditions, or take no further action (NFA). A solicitor from Woolfe & Co will explain the outcome, advise you on what it means, and discuss the next steps — including representation at court if you are charged. We remain with you throughout the process.