Representation at the Police Station is free in all circumstances!

You should be aware that you have the right to legal advice at any time (with limited exceptions) whilst you are in the Police Station, and we shall be happy to advise you at any time, day or night, should you require our assistance in this, or any other, police case.

During out of hours we operate a telephone deployment scheme. If you telephone the office your call will be diverted to our deployment manager. If your call concerns an arrest the deployment manager will immediately contact the first available police station representative to assist you. If your call is non-urgent then we would ask that you contact the office during office hours only.

Under the access to justice legislation, subject to means testing, you are entitled to advice and assistance initially subject to an upper limit of £300.00. If you have not already provided us with proof of income (such as your benefit book if you are on benefits) then please do so as soon as possible. This limit can be extended by prior application to the Legal Services Commission if circumstances allow. You will be advised before this limit is extended and will not be charged for any excess work done without prior authority.

Once an application for Legal Aid has been completed it is electronically sent to the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) who must decide whether you qualify for representation. The LAA will first decide whether the interests of justice test has been passed. If there is a risk to your liberty upon conviction the interests of justice will be passed. The LAA will then apply a means test. Persons under 16, under 18 and in full-time education, and those on certain benefits, such as ESA and JSA will automatically receive legal aid should be automatically granted.

For everyone else, the Court will initially refuse legal aid to anyone whose income after adjustments for dependents exceeds £22,325 (although further appeals on the grounds of hardship may be possible). Below this threshold, the Court will perform a full means assessment and those with a disposable income of more than £3,398 per annum after calculations of income and outgoings, will not qualify for free representation. If you are refused legal aid this means that you will either have to represent yourself or instruct us privately. We provide extremely competitive rates which are fixed so that you know exactly how much you pay from the moment you instruct us.

If your case goes to the Crown Court for trial you will automatically qualify for legally aided representation once you have completed an application form unless you have disposable household income of £37500 per annum. After you have been means tested, you may have to pay a contribution towards the cost of your defence. This could be from your income while the case is on-going and/or from your capital, if you are convicted. You will be asked to provide evidence of your income and assets. If you do not, your payments could be increased which would result in you paying more towards your defence costs. You will not have to pay towards the costs of your case if you are under 18 when you make your application or if you receive any of the following benefits: income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, guaranteed state pension credit or income related employment and support allowance. You may have to pay towards the costs if your monthly disposable income is above a certain level. If this is the case, you will receive a Contribution Order from the court and you will have to make payments as required under the Order. The first payment will be due within 28 days of your case being committed, sent or transferred for trial. You must tell the Court about any changes to your financial circumstances during your case because a change may affect the amount you have to pay towards your defence costs. If you don’t think you can afford to pay, or you think that a mistake has been made, you can ask for a review of the amount the Court has told you to pay. At the end of the case, if you are found not guilty, any payments you have made will be refunded with interest.

If you paid late or not at all and action was taken against you, the costs of this action will be deducted from the refund.

We will apply for legal aid in your behalf.