Specialist criminal defence, from police station to final appeal.

Stay calm, do not resist, and ask for a solicitor immediately. You have the right to free legal advice at the police station, regardless of your income. Do not answer questions or discuss the allegation until you have spoken to a solicitor — anything you say can be used in evidence. Call us on 07752 20 30 40, 24 hours a day.

Yes. Legal advice at the investigation stage can prevent charges, shape the direction of an enquiry, and protect your position for any future proceedings. Whether you have been arrested, invited for a voluntary interview, or simply contacted by police, speaking to a solicitor early is the single most effective step you can take.

Legal aid is generally available for police station advice (free to everyone) and for court cases that pass the interests of justice and means tests. In the Crown Court, a contribution may be required depending on income. We assess your eligibility and apply on your behalf, and offer clear private fee options where legal aid is not available.

A duty solicitor is a rota lawyer available to anyone at a police station or magistrates’ court without their own representative. Your own solicitor knows you and your case from the start and can represent you throughout. You have the right to ask for ASA Solicitors by name at any police station, free of charge, 24 hours a day.

The police caution warns that anything you say may be given in evidence. You will be asked questions about the allegation. You have the right to free legal advice before the interview, and you may answer, give a prepared statement, or remain silent — each option carries consequences. We advise you in private before the interview and agree the right approach.

Not every investigation leads to court. Many are resolved with no further action, a caution, or a fixed penalty. If you are charged, most cases begin in the Magistrates’ Court; the most serious are sent to the Crown Court. We represent you at every hearing and advise at each stage on the best course of action.

Police station advice is immediate. After charge, summary cases in the Magistrates’ Court typically conclude within a few months, while Crown Court cases often take 12 to 24 months from charge to trial depending on complexity and court listing. We keep you updated at every hearing and manage all deadlines.

Yes — even minor offences can result in a criminal record, penalty points, or disqualification, with consequences for employment, travel, and insurance. Some outcomes, such as cautions and conditional discharges, are recorded and can appear on standard and enhanced DBS checks. We advise on the implications and work to avoid or minimise recorded outcomes where possible.

The Magistrates’ Court handles less serious (summary) offences and the early stages of most cases, with sentencing powers generally limited to 6 months’ custody for a single offence. The Crown Court tries the most serious offences before a judge and jury and has unlimited sentencing powers. We advise on which court your case will be heard in and on your right to elect Crown Court trial for either-way offences.