What do I do if the police want to talk to me?

As children, many of us were taught that if we have done nothing wrong then we should have nothing to hide. There is often a thought process that follows, in that by either hesitating to talk to the authorities or wanting to speak to a lawyer beforehand, we must be guilty of something.

This is perhaps one of the main reasons why so many accused persons waive their right to speak to a lawyer and/or ignore their right to silence at times when police want to speak to them as a suspect. Instead, many elect to make voluntary admissions against their own interests (often without realising they are doing so) in a recorded interview. Such admissions are incredibly difficult to be ruled as inadmissible, and can directly affect how viable a defence is later on down the track.

Experienced defence lawyers know all too well how important it is for clients to know what their options are before they consider speaking to the police as a suspect, irrespective of whether they have committed an offence or not. Not only can the advice given impact what options are available if the person is ultimately charged with a criminal offence (such as the charge being discontinued later, a defence being available at trial or the charge being downgraded to a less serious offence) but also whether the person is even charged at all.

If you or someone you know is in this position where police want to speak to them in relation to a criminal investigation, it is critical to get advice from a specialist criminal lawyer before anything is said to the police.  Speak to our team today on 0401 326 326.