Should I attend a voluntary police interview?

Should I attend a voluntary police interview?

Is it a bad idea to speak to police voluntarily? Not necessarily – it is usually preferable to being arrested for a start! The key thing is to make sure you do not say anything which increases your likelihood of being arrested or charged with an offence or that undermines your defence if you are charged.

What questions do police ask in questioning?

They may ask what you are doing, why you are in an area, where you are going, or what you are carrying. You don’t have to answer any questions the police officer asks you, unless the officer suspects you are linked to an offence.

Do police have to interview suspects?

There is no express legal requirement that a person suspected of having committed an offence must be interviewed under caution before any decision as to whether to prosecute is taken.

How long does a voluntary police interview last?

How long do voluntary police interviews take? The duration of an interview varies. They could typically take around 1-2 hours. You are not required to take anything with you unless you have documents that are relevant to the investigation.

What happens if you say no comment in a police interview?

Your police station representative will always make a note of the instructions that you give, so even if you make ‘no comment’ replies they can give evidence to the court if necessary to show that you haven’t made up a defence once you are charged and papers are served.

Should you always say no comment?

‘You do not have to say anything if you do not wish to do so, but anything you do say may be used against you in a court of law. ‘ Today, courts can use silence (or no comment answers) as an inference of guilt. This means that saying nothing, in some cases, can do more harm than good.

Why do you say no comment in a police interview?

There is no magic to the phrase no comment. It is simply a device for a suspect to indicate that they have no intention of answering police questions. It allows the police to put questions and the interview to progress easily.

How long can a police interview last?

On average, police interviews take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and a half. That said, if there is little substance to the allegation and the police officer is convinced that what you are saying is authentic, the interviews can take as little as 15 minutes.

Is it always best to say no comment?

Is it best to say no comment in a police interview?

Make “NO COMMENT” to all questions. There is no such thing as a friendly chat with a police officer. Everything you say can and will likely be used as evidence. If they interview you, give a “No Comment” interview, unless under explicit advice from a good solicitor to make a written statement.

How long does a police interview take?

Does saying no comments make you look guilty?

The court (be it a jury or a bench of Magistrates) are entitled to draw an “adverse inference” from a suspect’s failure or refusal to answer questions in interview. In other words, the court may conclude that silence equates with guilt.

Why do people reply No comment?

No comment is a phrase used as a response to journalistic inquiries which the respondent does not wish to answer. Public figures may decline to comment on issues they are questioned or have nothing to say about the issue at the time.

What is wanted for questioning?

A Want or Wanted is just a Detective wanting to speak with you and question you about an incident. If you are detained by police and taken to the station on a wanted this means that you will be questioned but it is does not mean that you will necessarily be arrested and charged with a crime or jailed.