Police Station
Police Station Representation – Available 24/7, 365 Days a Year
At Ryan & Co Solicitors, we offer round-the-clock legal representation for anyone detained at a Police station or invited to attend for a voluntary interview. This service is provided completely free of charge, regardless of your financial circumstances, under our contract with the Legal Aid Agency from 1 October 2025*.
Our experienced Police station team consists of Duty Solicitors and Accredited Police Station Representatives, providing you with expert legal support at all local Police stations and beyond where appropriate.
Voluntary Interviews – Just as Serious as Arrest
In recent years, the Police have taken to inviting individuals to attend at the Police station for voluntary interviews rather than arresting suspects immediately. It is important to understand that these interviews are not informal chats. They are formal interviews, conducted under caution and they are recorded. As anything you say may be used in evidence the decisions made at this stage can significantly affect the outcome of your case as many cases are often won, or lost, at the Police station.
Expert Legal Advice – Tailored to Your Case
Whether the Police believe they have strong evidence against you, or if you are completely denying the allegation, our role is to provide clear, honest, and strategic advice. Sometimes a full and frank admission can lead to a caution or reduce the chances of a custodial sentence. In other cases, saying nothing at all may be the best course of action. Where allegations are denied, a full account may also be crucial.
Whatever your circumstances, you can rely on our decades of experience to guide you through this critical stage with confidence.
What If You Have Been Contacted by the Police
- Voluntary Interview: Call us immediately. We will attend with you, free of charge
- Bail to Return: If you've already been interviewed and are on Police bail, we can continue to represent you, likely still at no cost to you
- Released Under Investigation (RUI): We can advise and monitor the case for developments
- Not Local? While we primarily cover the Lancashire area, we can arrange for trusted representation nationally in serious or complex cases, or for current and returning clients
We also represent clients during interviews with other agencies, including:
- Trading Standards
- Local Authorities
- HMRC
- DWP / Benefits Agencies
And you may still be entitled to free legal advice even if the interview doesn’t take place at a Police station. Please contact us for further information.
Do I Need a Solicitor at the Police Station?
Yes. Early, expert legal advice can drastically influence the outcome of your case. It protects your rights, prevents self-incrimination, and ensures the strongest possible foundation if the case proceeds further. Many clients unknowingly say things that can later be used against them. Our job is to make sure that doesn’t happen.
Please Note – Duty Solicitor Representation
Police Station Duty Solicitors are qualified Solicitors or accredited representatives from various local law firms who participate in a rota system. Their role is to provide legal assistance to individuals who have been arrested and do not have a Solicitor of their own.
It is important to understand that Duty Solicitors and their representatives are entirely independent from the Police. They do not work for the Police, nor are they based at the Police station waiting to be called. If you are ever arrested and simply ask for the ‘Duty Solicitor,’ it is unlikely that you will be represented by this firm, as the Duty Solicitor on call could be from any other local firm.
We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and as our office is located within walking distance of the Police station, we can attend promptly. Even outside normal office hours, our Solicitors and representatives live locally and are able to get to the Police station quickly.
As requesting the Duty Solicitor does not guarantee faster assistance, and may even result in representation by another firm, if you want Ryan & Co Solicitors to represent you, it is essential that you specifically ask for us by name when you are offered legal representation by the Police.
Pre-Charge Advice – Strategic Defence from the Outset
If you’ve been interviewed and released on Police bail or under investigation, the case isn’t over. The Police and / or the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) may still be considering whether or not to charge you.
This period presents a critical window of opportunity. At Ryan & Co Solicitors, we adopt a proactive, strategic approach to pre-charge engagement. We don’t wait. We actively engage with the Police and the CPS where appropriate to present evidence and make representations to try to resolve cases early, to minimise your stress, and to hopefully avoid unnecessary Court proceedings.
We can:
- Submit detailed pre-charge representations outlining key facts and legal issues to argue that a prosecution is not in the public interest or that there is no realistic prospect of a conviction
- Monitor investigations for compliance with recognised legal procedures
- Suggest alternative lines of enquiry or provide access to supporting evidence
Contact Us – Anytime, Day or Night
If you’ve been arrested, invited to attend a voluntary interview, or are under investigation by the Police or any other agency, then early advice could make all the difference.
Let us protect your rights and secure the best possible outcome for your case.
Don’t face it alone.
*For any cases prior to 1 October 2025, please contact us for further information on our fixed fees for representation at the Police station.