This essential toolkit for all criminal defence lawyers outlines a number of scenarios one may face at the police station – some frequent, and some not-so-familiar situations, as well as dealing with topics such as strip searches, which continue to make headlines. These include:
Custody sergeant refuses you access to the custody record as he is busy
Fitness to be interviewed
Intimate and strip searches
Advice of appropriate adult
Appropriate adult (parent/guardian) is a potential witness
Identification procedure
OIC tells your client it would be quicker to deal with his/her case with a solicitor
OIC accuses the solicitor of being obstructive and threatened to ask them to leave the interview
You are an accredited or probationary representative and have been refused entry into custody
The interviewing officer forgets to administer police caution prior to asking questions
Interviewing officer asks irrelevant questions
Interviewing officer asks multiple or unclear questions
Interviewing officer misrepresented the law
Interviewing officer putting words in the client’s mouth/making assumptions
Interviewing officer mentioned the client’s previous convictions in interview
During the interview, the interviewing officer is acting in an oppressive manner