A practical guide from experienced criminal defence solicitors on what to do, and what not to do, when the police are trying to contact you.
Summary
If the police are looking for you, stay calm and seek legal advice immediately. Do not ignore calls, letters, or visits from the police. A specialist criminal defence solicitor can contact the investigating officer, find out why the police want to speak to you, and help protect your rights before any interview or arrest takes place.
Discovering that the police are looking for you can be stressful and frightening. You may have received a call from a police officer, been contacted through a family member, received a letter requesting contact, or learnt that officers have visited your home or workplace.
Many people immediately assume the worst and worry that they are about to be arrested or charged with a criminal offence. However, police may wish to speak to someone for a variety of reasons, and being contacted does not automatically mean you have committed a crime.
Knowing what steps to take can help protect your legal position and avoid mistakes that could affect a future investigation. This guide explains exactly what you should do, and what you should not do, if the police are looking for you.
The police may contact you directly, visit your address, telephone you, leave a business card, contact family members, or ask you to attend a police station. In some cases, you may learn that an arrest has been authorised if officers cannot locate you.
Common signs that the police are looking for you include:
If any of these occur, it is sensible to seek legal advice immediately.
No. Ignoring the police is rarely a good idea and can often make matters worse. If officers believe you are deliberately avoiding contact, they may decide that arrest is necessary to progress their investigation. Responding through a solicitor is often the safest approach.
Potential consequences of ignoring police contact include:
| Action | Potential Consequence |
|---|---|
| Ignoring calls or letters | Police may escalate to arrest at home or work |
| Avoiding officers who visit | Increased suspicion; arrest warrant may be sought |
| Failing to attend a voluntary interview | Arrest to secure attendance for questioning |
| Delaying engagement | Loss of opportunity to arrange interview on your terms |
Early engagement through a solicitor often provides more control over the situation than avoiding contact altogether.
Yes. If you believe the police are looking for you, you should speak to a criminal defence solicitor before contacting officers or attending an interview. Legal advice is available whether you have been arrested or invited to attend voluntarily.
An experienced solicitor can:
Contact the investigating officer on your behalf
Discover the nature of the allegation
Arrange a voluntary interview where appropriate
Obtain pre-interview disclosure of the allegations
Advise on your legal rights and options
Attend the interview with you
Important: Many people inadvertently damage their position by speaking to the police before obtaining legal advice. Even if you believe you have done nothing wrong, what you say can be used as evidence. Always speak to a solicitor first.
Yes. Depending on the circumstances, police may arrest you if they have reasonable grounds to suspect your involvement in a criminal offence and believe arrest is necessary under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE). However, not every investigation results in arrest.
The police may instead:
| Police Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Voluntary Interview | You attend voluntarily to answer questions under caution |
| Arrest | You are detained for investigation at a police station |
| Further Enquiries | Police continue gathering evidence before deciding next steps |
| No Further Action | Investigation concludes without any action being taken |
Every case depends on the facts and the evidence available. For more on this, read our guide on whether police can arrest without evidence, charge or warrant.
A voluntary interview (also called a "caution plus 3" interview) is an interview under caution conducted without arrest. Although attendance is "voluntary," anything you say can still be used as evidence in a criminal investigation or subsequent prosecution.
Many people wrongly assume a voluntary interview is informal. In reality:
Never attend a voluntary interview without speaking to a solicitor first. Our police station representation service covers voluntary interviews as well as post-arrest attendance.
If police visit your home, remain calm and polite. Ask for identification and find out why they wish to speak with you. Do not answer questions about the allegations until you have obtained legal advice.
You should:
Being polite does not mean you must answer substantive questions immediately. You are entitled to legal advice first.
Sometimes. Police may enter and search premises under specific legal powers or pursuant to a warrant. Whether a search is lawful depends on the circumstances and the legislation being relied upon, such as PACE 1984.
Possible situations where police may search your home include:
If a search occurs, request a copy of any warrant and seek legal advice promptly. Our solicitors for challenging search warrants can advise on the lawfulness of any search.
Avoid making impulsive decisions. Actions taken in panic can sometimes create additional legal difficulties that were entirely avoidable.
Do not:
Ignore police contact. This often makes matters worse.
Run away or hide. This may strengthen suspicion against you.
Destroy or tamper with evidence. This is a serious separate offence in its own right.
Contact witnesses about the case. This could be viewed as witness intimidation or attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Post about it on social media. Anything you post may be used as evidence against you.
Attend an interview without a solicitor. Always get legal advice first.
Taking professional advice early is usually the safest option and can prevent avoidable complications.
Following an interview, police may continue investigating, release you without further action, grant bail, release you under investigation, or refer the case to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision.
Possible outcomes include:
| Outcome | What It Means |
|---|---|
| No Further Action (NFA) | The investigation ends without any charge |
| Police Bail | You are released with conditions and a date to return |
| Release Under Investigation (RUI) | Released without bail conditions while enquiries continue |
| Community Resolution | Matter resolved without court, often for minor offences |
| Formal Charge | You are charged and required to attend court |
| Court Proceedings | The case proceeds to Magistrates' Court or Crown Court |
Many investigations conclude without charges being brought. A solicitor can keep you informed at every stage.
Early legal advice allows a solicitor to understand the allegation, communicate with the police, protect your rights, and help avoid mistakes that may affect the outcome of an investigation, including the decision to charge.
In our experience as criminal defence solicitors, we have seen how early engagement can make a significant difference:
The earlier a solicitor becomes involved, the more opportunities there are to protect your interests and influence the direction of the investigation.
Expert representation at any police station across England and Wales, 24/7
Understand when police can lawfully arrest you under PACE 1984
Legal advice on the lawfulness of searches and seizure of property
Get immediate legal advice via WhatsApp, 24/7 emergency support
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If the police are looking for you, have asked you to attend a voluntary interview, or you believe you may be arrested, do not delay. Our specialist criminal defence solicitors provide confidential legal advice, police station representation, and expert defence services throughout England and Wales, available 24 hours a day.