FAQs

No. If you are arrested, police can take your fingerprints without your consent.  

If you are arrested and detained for what is known as a "recordable offence" the Police can take your fingperprints and a non-intimate DNA sample from you without your consent. Examples being a mouth swab, a hair from your head with root or swabs of your hands. 

There are more than one kind of Warrant that are commonly referred to. There are warrants that are issued by Courts where a suspect fails to attend when required. They can be warrants backed for bail or without bail. If you fail to attend Court please contact us immediately as we can assist you. 

There are also warrants that are issued by the Police / Courts that give the Police the power to search rooms or addresses or buildings. This is usually when they are looking for someone or items reated to a suspected offence.

The police have the power to enter your premises to affect an arrest and, in doing so, to search the house for evidence relating to the investigation in question. Once under arrest and detained, the police can search the house, on the authority of an officer of at least an inspector's rank, for evidence relating to the current or other offences.

Initially the Police can only hold you up to 24 hours without charge. However this can be extended by a further 12 hours by the Police or 72 hours by a Court. It is therefore vital that you seek our representation if you are arrested and taken to the Police Station, as we can make representations to force the Police to release you earlier than they would like. 

There are different types of Bail. The Police can release you on bail whilst they finish their investigation. Sometimes they might impose stringent conditions. The Police can also bail you to Court once charged. Again they may choose to put conditions on that bail. 

Bail is also imposed by the Court when adjourning a case to a different date. The Prosecution often apply to have conditions attached to a suspect's bail. In all 3 circumstances, our team can assist you by applying to remove bail conditions that are not needed. 

ABH, or Assault occasioning Actual Bodily Harm as it is correctly known, is a form of assault. It comes under Section 47 of the Offences Against the Persons Act 1861. 

This is charged by the Police where the injuries suffered by the victim are more than trifling. This means they are more serious than minor ones. It is a serious offence which carries up to 5 years imprisonment if convicted. If you are arrested ir charged with ABH please contact one of our team immediately.

GBH, or Section 20 Wounding involves causing grievous bodily harm. Those are serious injuries. It carries a maximum sentence of 5 years imprisonment.