Family Member Arrested: What to Do

What can a relative do immediately?

• Find out the police station and, if available, the custody reference.
• Ask the custody desk to record the request for Ghafar Khan to be contacted.
• Keep any paperwork, messages or information that may help the defence. Do not delete or alter material.
• Do not discuss the allegation on social media or contact witnesses about what they should say.

The police may be limited in what they can tell relatives, particularly where the detained person is an adult. A solicitor can advise the person privately, check the basis of detention and provide representation during interview.

Free legal advice and legal aid at the police station

Legal advice at the police station is free. It is not means-tested, and asking for a solicitor does not suggest guilt. The detained person may ask for the duty solicitor or request Ghafar Khan by name. Once legal advice has been requested, questioning will normally wait until advice has been received, subject to limited exceptions.

For a child or vulnerable adult, the police must arrange an appropriate adult. That role is separate from the solicitor’s role.

Official guidance: legal advice at the police station and rights in custody.

What happens after interview?

The person may be released with no further action, released under investigation, released on bail or charged. If the case continues, early advice can help preserve evidence, address bail conditions and prepare for court. Criminal legal aid work is accepted. For court representation, eligibility rules apply and an application can be completed and submitted with the defence team.

Read next: Being prosecuted—what happens next? or see offences we defend.

How long can someone be kept at the police station?

In many cases the police can hold a person for up to 24 hours before charging or releasing them. Longer detention can be authorised in some serious investigations. Families should avoid relying on guesswork about release times because custody reviews, interviews, searches and other enquiries can affect the timetable.

If you are worried about a delay, keep a note of when the arrest happened, the police station involved and any contact you have had with the custody desk or investigating officer.

Useful information to give the solicitor

• The detained person’s full name and date of birth.
• The police station and, if known, custody reference.
• The officer’s name or investigation team if known.
• Any urgent medical, mental-health or vulnerability issues.
• Details of medication or caring responsibilities that may need to be raised.
• Any obvious evidence that should be preserved, such as CCTV, messages, receipts or travel records.

Do not ask relatives, friends or witnesses to coordinate accounts. Preserve information and let the solicitor decide what should be provided to the police and when.