Criminal Law

Your first action is critical: **remain silent** and immediately **request to speak to your solicitor**. Do not answer any questions, sign any documents, or offer any explanations to the police. Exercising your right to silence until legal representation arrives is the best way to protect your position.

**Yes.** In most jurisdictions, you are entitled to free and independent legal advice at the police station, regardless of your income or the nature of the alleged offence. You should always accept this right and request our firm by name.

Even if you are innocent, answering questions without legal advice is risky. Your solicitor will assess the evidence the police have and advise you on the best course of action—either giving a prepared statement or remaining silent. **Never participate in a formal interview alone.**

Your solicitor's role is to ensure the police follow proper procedure, advise you on your rights, sit with you during the interview, interrupt inappropriate questions, and advise you on whether to answer questions or remain silent. They are your shield against missteps.

**Summary offences** are less serious (e.g., minor traffic offenses) and are dealt with by a lower court (e.g., Magistrates' Court). **Indictable offences** are serious crimes (e.g., murder, serious assault) that must be heard by a higher court (e.g., Crown Court). We handle both.

Bail is the temporary release of a person awaiting trial, often with conditions (like curfew or surety). We aggressively prepare and present arguments for bail to the court, focusing on why you pose no flight risk or danger to the public, aiming to keep you out of custody.

The process involves: reviewing all prosecution evidence (disclosure), conducting independent investigations (witness interviews, expert reports), identifying flaws in the prosecution’s case, developing a robust legal and factual defense strategy, and preparing for trial.

Plea bargaining (or plea negotiation) involves discussions with the prosecution to secure a reduced charge or a recommendation for a lesser sentence in exchange for a guilty plea. While procedures vary, we only advise on this if it is clearly in your best interest and provides certainty and a beneficial outcome.

If you are innocent, we will advise you to plead **Not Guilty**. We then conduct a fierce defense, meticulously challenging the prosecution’s evidence and presenting a strong, factual case to demonstrate your innocence to the court or jury.

We offer expert services funded by two routes: **Legal Aid** (for certain serious cases, subject to eligibility criteria) and **Private Client funding**. We will fully assess your eligibility for Legal Aid and provide transparent quotations for private fees immediately.

Minor summary offenses can be resolved in weeks or a few months. Complex or indictable offenses (especially those requiring a jury trial) can take **12 to 24 months** or longer, depending on disclosure and court scheduling. We keep you updated at every stage.

**Yes.** If you believe your conviction or sentence was unjust, we can assess the viability of an appeal. We look for procedural errors, misdirection by the judge, or fresh evidence that could lead to a successful challenge in the appellate courts. Time limits for appeals are strict.

During a pre-charge investigation, police gather evidence before deciding whether to charge you. Our critical role here is to liaise with police, proactively provide exculpatory evidence, and lobby the police or prosecution to close the investigation without charges being filed.

Sentences can range from fines, community orders, and conditional discharges to suspended sentences and immediate custody (imprisonment). If you are facing sentencing, we prepare extensive mitigation arguments to secure the most lenient sentence possible.

**Contact our 24/7 emergency criminal defense line immediately.** Police and criminal matters cannot wait for office hours. We have solicitors ready to attend the police station or advise you urgently on your rights, regardless of the time of day or night.