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Let’s hope you never end up getting arrested. But, if you do, remember these five tips. These tips will protect you and help ensure your arrest is a strange blip in your life that you can look back on rather than something more life-disrupting.
If you have any further questions surrounding getting arrested and your arrest rights in the UK, please don’t hesitate to visit our criminal defence page. Additionally, you can contact one of our solicitors directly on 020 3007 5500.
1. Cooperate when getting arrested.
Cooperation is one of the best things you can do to ensure you are out of prison quickly. Cooperation also gives you the best chance of winning your case later down the line.
Your instincts may be to fight when getting arrested. But withholding personal information or refusing the arrest will result in additional charges against you. Furthermore, challenging an arrest can come at the cost of risking your safety. An officer will not hesitate to take forceful action against you to make the arrest.
By remaining calm and being cooperative, you are not giving the police any reason to add any further charges to your arrest or resort to violence.
2. Pay attention to evidence.
In most cases, paying attention to the evidence collected against you will help exonerate you. If the police search your property, pay careful attention and make a note of the evidence they are collecting.
Letting your solicitor know this information as soon as possible can help you plan and build up a more robust defence.
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3. Document your case ASAP.
It’s essential when arrested in the UK that you take immediate action. Once released from prison, you need to start preparing your defence as quickly as possible. Acting quickly and getting the details of the arrest written down could make all the difference between you being prosecuted or exonerated for the accused crime.
Three examples of action you can take are:
- Try and remember all the details of your arrest and write them down as soon as possible.
- Try to get contact information for anyone who witnessed your arrest. It may be several months until the hearing of your case, and you will need a way to get your witnesses to court.
- If you were injured when getting arrested, seek medical attention immediately, photograph your injuries, and keep a copy of all treatment records.
4. Enter the correct plea.
After you’re arrested, you’ll normally have time to think about your plea. You only enter a plea during a hearing before a Magistrates or at court rather than with the police.
Unlike the movies, it’s best to put in an honest plea. If you plead not guilty and it transpires you were guilty further down the line, you’re likely to face harsher penalties for your crime.
Conversely, if you plead guilty from the start, the judge may be more lenient in thinking that you are repentant for your crime and reduce the punishment accordingly.
Regardless, it’s best to consult with a criminal defence solicitor on what plea to enter prior to attending a plea hearing. Our solicitors will be able to identify legal defences that may result in the dismissal of your charges.
5. Remain silent when getting arrested.
When getting arrested, it’s vital that you remain silent. Although you may feel you can negotiate yourself out of being arrested by explaining the circumstance, it will hurt you more than it can help you.
Police can ask you questions and some of which you must answer. You must give the police information on your name, address, and date of birth so they can identify you. But, when asked about the case, you don’t have to answer and can respond with the answer: “no comment”.
Anything you do say may become evidence against you in court. Our criminal defence solicitors insist that the only person you talk to about your case is your solicitor. Anyone else you speak to could become a witness, including other people in your holding cell. Additionally, don’t post anything on social media regarding your case. The police will be able to get hold of these posts and could use it as evidence.
How can Britton and Time Solicitors help?
Getting arrested is a significant event that, if mishandled, can permanently alter the course of your life. Our experienced criminal defence solicitors are on hand if you get arrested for giving you that peace of mind at such a vulnerable time.
To consult us about your matter, either send us an email via [email protected] or call one of our solicitors directly on 020 3007 5500.
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