Crime Solicitors

Bexleyheath, Blackheath & Petts Wood

If you are faced with the prospect of a criminal charge which places your liberty and reputation at stake you will need to choose the very best crime solicitors to assist you.

Aletta Shaw’s criminal department deals with all types of crime, including:

We can advise you about potential defences, bail issues or making an appeal against conviction or sentence. We can arrange representation for you in the Magistrates Court or Crown Court.

If we win your case we can help you recover your costs in some cases.

Police Station Interviews

If you are invited for a voluntary interview or a “Caution Plus 3 interview” at a police station it is essential that you have the appropriate legal representation either from the duty solicitor or a representative arranged by Aletta Shaw.

The interview is part of an investigation so the Officer in Charge and the CPS will use this information in their decisions about charges. Your solicitor will be there to ensure that the correct practices are being followed. You can find out more about the requirements for your treatment in the police station.

At the police station

Before the interview takes place, your representative will ask for disclosure. This is information and evidence from the police that led them to invite you for interview and will give you a better idea what the case is about. Your representative will be able discuss this with you privately and advise you before your interview as it may have an impact on how you chose to respond to questions.

The interview

You will also need to be advised about answering the questions put to you or giving “no comment” responses. In appropriate circumstances your representative can also draft a pre-prepared statement with you that can be read out at the interview. This is important advice, as how you chose to respond in an interview can have an impact on your case later on.

Another important role of your police station representative is also in the interview itself. They will be there with you to intervene during questioning and ensure that you are properly advised throughout. If necessary, your representative can even object to specific questions if they are not appropriate.

Special measures

If you have any special needs that may affect your ability to answer questions or review the evidence disclosed, your representative will be there to request special measures as appropriate.

Additional benefits of representation

We can often establish if you have a potential defence early on in your case and this information can be useful to bring to the attention of the investigating officer before the make any decisions about next steps or charges. We can advise you about this in a consultation before or after your interview.

On some occasions there may be a disagreement about what occurred in a police station or during your interview. if there is no CCTV or recording of what happened your representative can give evidence in court as a witness.

Interviews with young people and appropriate adults

Aletta Shaw can also assist if you are under 18 or your child requires representation at a police station interview. We can also advise and help you appoint an appropriate adult, if required.

You should always have a solicitor to represent you if you attend an interview under caution, contact us for details for more details about how to arrange this.

For more information or to discuss next steps contact us on 020 8301 4884.