Voluntary police interview
- Feb 1
- 2 min read
A voluntary police interview is attending a police interview under caution as a volunteer by arrangement rather than being arrested.
It is still a formal and serious police investigative process, and definitely NOT a friendly chat.
A police interview is defined as the questioning of a person regarding their involvement or suspected involvement in a criminal offence(s) and must be carried out under caution. This means the police consider you as a suspect.
Although voluntary police interviews usually take place at police stations, they can also take place at your home address or place of work, or even in council-owned offices.
Voluntary police interviews under caution are recorded either audio only or audio and visually.
DON’T assume that you will automatically be treated favourably and more leniently by cooperating with the police in a voluntary police interview and talking to the police.
DON’T assume that you can handle the police interview alone without receiving legal advice.
DON'T start offering unnecessary information in person, or by phone, or through an exchange of messages with the police while arranging that voluntary police interview. Information, even prior to the police attendance, can and will be used against you if it helps the police case.
Why do the police ask you to attend a voluntary police interview rather than arrest you?
- They may not have enough evidence to make out reasonable grounds for suspicion to arrest you.
- Even if reasonable grounds for suspicion criteria are met for an arrest, they may not be able to satisfy the second ground for an arrest, which is the necessity criteria to arrest.
- The voluntary police interview is more cost-effective and time-efficient.
A voluntary police interview might sound less intimidating than being arrested, but it can have the same serious consequences.
Furthermore, you are still entitled to free and independent legal advice even though you are not under arrest.
So, if you are required to attend a voluntary police interview,
please do not underestimate the matter,
safeguard your future, and
call us straight away on
07920 133113
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