I've Been Arrested |
Police Interview |
After the Interview
Legal Advice |
Getting A Reprimand |
Getting A Final Warning
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I've Been Arrested:
If you are arrested you will be taken to a police station and placed in a cell. You will then be interviewed about the offence. One of a number of different things can happen. The police may give you a reprimand or a final warning, however if the crime you have committed is serious enough the police may decide that you should be charged. This means that you will have to appear in Court. |
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Police Interview:
When you are arrested and are taken to the police station, the police will want to interview you about the crime. If you are 10-17 years old you must have an appropriate adult with you. An appropriate adult can be a parent, guardian, or carer who is over the age of 18. If you are over 17 then legally you don't need to have anybody with you. You can choose to be in the police station by yourself and you can be interviewed without an appropriate adult there. You do have the right to free legal advice at the police station. The police will make a phone call on your behalf to a solicitor who is totally independent from the police service. Any discussions you have with a solicitor are confidential. You are also entitled to make a phone call to a relative/friend but this call is not confidential & the police may decide to monitor the conversation ( i.e. listen in) |
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After the Interview:
You will either be charged with the offence or free to leave. Five choices are open to the police:
- You might be released without charge
- Bailed for further enquiries to be made
- Bailed to receive a Reprimand or Final Warning
- Bailed to court
- Remanded to the police station, until an application for remand is made before the court this will take place at the next available court date
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Legal Advice:
It is obviously better, where possible, to seek legal advice beforehand. If you intend to be represented, consult a solicitor as soon as possible. The sooner he or she can start work on your case, the better. You may know a solicitor already. Somebody you know may be able to recommend one. |
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Getting A Reprimand:
A Reprimand is usually offered if it is your first offence, you have admitted the offence and it is of a less serious nature. Once you've had a reprimand you can't receive another one. The YOT provides a Reprimand Support Scheme to Parents / Carers of Young People. |
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Getting A Final Warning:
A Final Warning is offered if you have previously received a Reprimand, you have admitted the offence and it is of a less serious nature.
The police will give you a Final Warning and refer you to your local youth offending team. We will contact you to do a short assessment with you and also put in place a Final Warning Programme to help you stop re-offending.
A Final Warning is the last chance you have before you are taken to court by the police. You can only have one final warning. After that you have to be charged with any offence, regardless of how minor it is, you will then be charged to go to court.
There is one exception to the to final warning procedure. If you stay out of trouble for a period of 2 years following the date of your final warning, i.e., you are not arrested, charged & sentenced by the courts for any offences, the police may consider giving you a further final warning. The decison to give a second final warning will depend on how serious the offence is. |
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