Proactive lawyers acting for those under investigation in relation to criminal allegations
This short webinar presented by our Managing Director, Matthew Claughton. It is aimed at providing the professional legal advisor who is not a crime practitioner with an understanding of the most important part of the criminal case – the investigation.
All too often, individuals under investigation risk sleep walking into a prosecution.
Anyone can get caught up in a criminal investigation and their first port of call may be existing lawyer.
As their lawyer/other professional adviser they may expect some understanding of the criminal justice system and ultimately some assistance in helping them to decide what to do next.
If you can help them at what is likely to be the most stressful time of their life – you will have a client for life.
In this webinar we explain;
- The Code for Crown Prosecutors 2018 together with ‘The Charging Standard’ and the requirement for both a ‘realistic prospect of a conviction’ and for a prosecution to be in the ‘public interest’
- Interviews under caution and strategic options.
- Voluntary interviews and interviews under arrest.
- The concepts of pre charge bail and being ‘released under investigation’.
- The Director of Public Prosecution’s Guidance on Charging 2020 and the National File Standard.
- The notion of ‘pre charge engagement’ between the defence and investigators.
- We conclude with the end game which involves successful ‘representations against charge’ meaning that the investigation is over without a prosecution.
The presentation is informative and will help a legal advisor point a client under investigation to a legal team who can achieve all of the above and allow their life to return to normal.
About Olliers Solicitors
- Chamber Directory/Legal 500 Top Tier Firm
- The Times Best Law Firms – Top 200 Firm
- Four Awards at the Manchester Legal Awards 2021
About Matthew Claughton
- Managing Director of Olliers – at firm over 30 years
- Current Manchester Legal Awards Partner of the Year
- Legal 500 Leading Individual Crime and Fraud
Some frequently asked questions
Yes absolutely. The duty solicitor is funded to represent you at the police station by legal aid, however, if you are looking to instruct Olliers on a privately funded basis then we can notify the duty solicitor you no longer require their services and inform the police that you have changed representation. We will deal with all of this on your behalf and it is a very easy process.
If you are arrested for an offence but not charged, the police can place you on police bail for an initial period of 28 days. Following this, they can extend your bail for a maximum period of 3 months or 6 months in certain complex cases. Following this the police must either release you from bail or apply to the Magistrates’ Court to extend your bail.
Contact our criminal investigations solicitors
If you would like to discuss how we can proactively assist you in relation to your case at a pre-charge stage, contact us by telephone on 0161 834 1515, by email to info@olliers.com or complete the form below and we will contact you.
