United Kingdom Drink Driving Solicitor Advice at the Police Station

Do you need the advice of a drink driving solicitor if you are called into the police station for questioning in relation to a traffic stop? Are you aware of your rights under the law in the United Kingdom? Many people – especially those who never anticipated they might face criminal charges – know little more about their legal rights than what they see on the television court shows. Understanding your rights and what to expect at the police station can help you avoid making mistakes that could harm your defence if the police decide to charge you and you are prosecuted for a criminal offence.

Criminal Legal Aid

In much of the United Kingdom, you are entitled to free criminal legal aid at the police station if you have been arrested or asked to come in for questioning. You can also seek the advice of a drink driving solicitor, or for a criminal solicitor to advise you in responding to police questioning or requests that you submit to any type of testing to determine your alcohol level. This holds true whether you are arrested in London, Chatham, Kent or any other city or town in England or Wales.

General Advice

In general, criminal solicitors will tell you to say nothing at all to the police without a solicitor present. If you have been “invited” to the police station to answer questions, you have the right to bring your own criminal solicitor with you to be present any time you are interviewed at the station. If your solicitor or his firm holds a 2010 Standard Criminal Contract, the fee for your solicitors advice at the station will be paid by the Legal Service Commission.

If you are arrested and taken to the police station, or if at any time during your interview with the police you decide you want to have a solicitor present, you have the right to request representation. You have two choices at that point. You may accept the advice of the duty solicitor or request your own criminal legal aid solicitor.

If you request a duty solicitor, a private criminal defence attorney will be assigned to take your case according to a rota scheme. If you request your own solicitor, the Criminal Defence Call Centre will attempt to contact him or her for two hours. If they can’t reach him within two hours, they will send the duty solicitor to advise you.

Drink Driving Solicitor

If you are being questioned in connection with a drink driving offence, a non-imprisonable offence, a warrant or a breach of bail, the legal aid scheme will only cover telephone consultation with your drink driving solicitor or criminal solicitor.

No matter what charges you are facing and no matter whether you believe you are guilty of the charge or know nothing about it at all, it is in your best interests to have a criminal solicitor or drink driving solicitor representing you at the police station. It is your right and you are entitled to it.