If you have been arrested
You have the right to free, independent legal advice, and you can ask for Theodorous by name. Do not answer questions about the allegation before you have spoken to a solicitor. If you are calling for a relative, give their name, date of birth and the custody suite if you know it. The person detained is the client, so what we can share with family depends on their consent.
Most arrests in the West Midlands are taken to one of the force's central custody suites rather than a local station, so a relative may be held some distance from where the arrest happened. In Staffordshire, detained people are usually taken to the Northern Area Custody Facility in Stoke-on-Trent or the Watling custody facility near Gailey.
What we do at the police station
Before the interview we ask the investigating officer for disclosure, take your account in private and advise you on whether and how to answer questions. We stay with you through the interview, and afterwards we explain what the police are likely to do next.
What police must disclose before interviewVoluntary interviews
An interview at a local West Midlands or Staffordshire station is still an interview under caution, even if you have not been arrested. Contact us as soon as you receive the invitation. We request disclosure, prepare you beforehand and attend with you.
After the interview
Many cases are not decided at the station. We advise on bail conditions, release under investigation and, where justified, written representations before a charging decision. Advice at the police station is free under legal aid. If your matter later needs private representation, we will tell you at the outset and agree the fee in writing before any paid work begins.