Your Rights on Arrest

Author: Dave Howell

The police can arrest you for a number of reasons, but when they do arrest you your right to freedom is exchanged for a number of other rights that legally protect you while in custody.

For a complete breakdown of what happens during and after an arrest, you can check our free Rights on Arrest Checker.

At the Police Station

Once you have been arrested you will be taken to a police station. At the police station you have a number of rights that include:

Not to be held for more than 24 hours without being charged. The police can apply for longer periods if they need more time. This can be up to 96 hours if approval from a magistrates’ court is granted
Seeing a solicitor who will be provided free of charge
Your family or next of kin to be informed of your location
The police code of practice to be made available to you

The Caution

After your arrest it is your right to be formally cautioned. The caution gives details of the crime you have been arrested for, and also informs you that if you do not mention something when you are questioned that you later rely on in court this may harm your defence. Also, anything you say to the police can also be given as evidence in court if your case goes to trial.

If the police think that they have a strong case against you and have the evidence they need to prove that case in court, you will be given a formal caution. This reminds you of your rights and how your case will now proceed. This usually means sending your case file to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) who will decide if the police’s case is strong enough to go to court.

Rights on Arrest Checker

If you or someone you know has been arrested or questioned by police, find out your rights, what to expect at the station, and what happens next.

Try our Rights on Arrest Checker free, here on this site →

Your Rights After Arrest

At the police station you will be questioned. If you are under 17 years of age, a parent, guardian or an adult that knows you such as a teacher must be present. At this stage all you have to do is confirm your name and address. You do not have to answer any other questions. However, if you don’t respond to questions this will be noted and if your case goes to court this failure to cooperate could count against you. If your solicitor hasn’t arrived at the police station yet, it is your right to wait for them so you can use their legal knowledge to decide whether you should answer a specific question.

Note however, that the police can delay your meeting with a solicitor if you have been arrested for a serious crime and they think that contact with your solicitor could interfere with the case.

The code of practice that you should have read includes details of how the police should carry out their questioning. You are entitled to regular breaks for food and the toilet. Your rights on arrest also state that the police should not use interview techniques that place unreasonable pressure on you to answer their questions.

Your interview will be tape-recorded, or in some cases written notes will be taken. You may also have your fingerprints taken as well as your photograph.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

The Charge

Once your interview is complete the police will then decide whether they want to proceed with your case. If they do not, you will be released without charge. If they do want to proceed, it is your right to be given a charge sheet that will give details of the crime you are accused of, where and when your first court appearance will take place, and what – if any – are your bail conditions.

Your Right to Bail

If the police charge you your rights state that you should normally be given bail. However, the police can argue that you should not have bail if:

They think you have given a false name and address
They think you are likely to not come to your court hearing
They think you may leave the country to avoid prosecution

You will appear before a magistrates’ court that will decide if you can have bail and if so, any condition you must follow. Note that you will not be eligible for bail if you committed a serious offence such as murder.

Read our article Police and Court Bail for more information about what to expect.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Rights on Arrest Checker lets you if you or someone you know has been arrested or questioned by police, find out your rights, what to expect at the station, and what happens next. Try it now →

Showing 20 of 357 questions

Ask Courtroom Advice a Question

CourtroomAdvice Editor 20/05/2026 at 9:18 am

@Gp What you're describing isn't acceptable, and you've every right to push this further. Make a formal complaint to Essex Police Professional Standards Department, and ask for a copy of the CCTV from the housing provider in writing before it gets wiped (they usually only hold it 28 days). If the officer refused to investigate, the IOPC can review that. Victim Support (08 08 16 89 111) is free and can help you through it, please give them a ring.

Gp 24/06/2024 at 4:22 am

I got assaulted in the manager's office on CCTV by a pot head bully in front of staff at secured housing corp.. Catherine lodge,Baxter av,it was that brutal that I had no other option but to be outcasted by him and his drunked gang by calling the police, not only did the police look at me like a "not worth the paper it's written on look" but he refused to look into watching the CCTV evidence he also asaultedi my friend for trying to stop him dragging me out the manager's office by my hair my friend who was crying and bleeding as recorded on CCTv was in pain. Now I done nothing wrong ..Southend police smirked at me for indi g this I cident amusing.
Is this aloud I'm to scared to get through this,as I have lost complete faith in the police and I want this looked into, I have lost confidence and anxiety is Lili g me

marty 18/09/2022 at 1:45 am

I was arrested after by police after they kicked my door off at 5- 30 in the morning. After saying they were knocking for ages.

Have footage from neighbour, thy knocked door and within 2 minutes my back door was off, and letting the rest of there is mob in through my front door.

I was arrested and taken to police station, asked for duty solicitor, 3 hours later I was released under further investigation.

Wasn't interviewed or allowed to see duty solicitor.. only information I know was the reason I was arrested. And nothing else

A week or so later I've received a letter from a solicitor who said thy attended police station,
Told me my rights and discussed the police disclosure. And I'd told the police I felt unwell and the police deciced to release me after I refused to go to hospital.... I've got no idea what's going on ... Any advise

My sympathy S God b 11/04/2021 at 5:49 am

Given old copy of my rights. Told custody record no avalible .
List of my property says one box of metal objects? Police filled box
From my house wile I'm locked up . Also ,the property you were arrested with?
Not aloud to see booked in. Refused proper list of items cost over£3000 I have
Receipts . RUI told I have no rights. Partners PTSD relaps. Her mom and step dad were
Murdrerd 10 plus years ago. Police told her her mom was void . No time scale can't do my job
Wile RUI costing my family £1000 a week.

Lisa reid 02/04/2021 at 10:35 pm

I git arested by the police in July 2020 because my ex partner if 4 yrs said I had been harassing him I havent tho they let me go with out charge an sjust told me not to contact him after 12 mnth if I text him will get arrested again or is it classed a sharrasment

Boo boo 02/11/2020 at 12:46 pm

Can I ask my husband was arrested in April for theift at work he was realised as pleased guilty,it then went to cps because his work had fetched it the stuff back ,cps have charged him with theift of unknown quantity,he came home from being arrested with no charge sheet is this normal or should he have had something to bring home ?

Joe 23/08/2020 at 2:40 pm

was arrested and released under investigation for a drink driving offence early December 2019. To this day (23/8/20) i have still not heard back from them. No letters from police, courts or phone calls. As its been over 6 months can I still be prosecuted for the alleged offence?

Hayley 01/07/2020 at 4:55 am

I was arrested but not read my rights no paper work i had no interview either for a married man who wanted my phone in which the police officer new him i had a voultury interview a month later with no solicitor present he was on loud speaker but he was told something totally different to what i was arrested for in the first place. A false statement as well i walked out the interview so didn't sign the recordings they just let me go it hasn't even gone to cps all they wanted was my phone.

Caz 05/04/2020 at 11:55 am

My son was pulled over by the police 3 weeks ago . He had a hammer in the car and they pulled him out the car to cheak him over and cheak his details were true ..he has never been in trouble with the police before.. the hammer is a tool as he is a carpenter by trade .. he wasnt arrest and they let him go .. the next day he got a phone call to say next week he needs to visit the police sstion .. why is this will they causion him then ?? X

Kay 27/03/2020 at 7:44 pm

i reported an incident about 6 months ago but I’m still waiting to here whether or not it’s going to court, I’ve contacted 3 times and still nothing has changed, should it be taking this long?

Zoe 12/03/2020 at 9:51 pm

I was arrested and was made to say something so I didn’t lose my child was against my partner am I able to withdraw this

Kat 26/02/2020 at 5:53 pm

My daughter had my partner arrested for a graze on my cheek .my partner did not do this to me it happened elsewhere when i wasnt with him i told the police this and have even given them evidence that proves he didnt do it ...a conversation on messenger between me and a friend me telling her exactly where i got the graze and my friend asked if i was on my own and my daughter replied on facebook yes my mum is on her own but my partner still got arrested for agh and is on bail with conditions not to see me i didnt aske for this and just want my partner home my daughter is 17 living with her grandmother as i cant see her because im so upset with her for what she done my partner is innocent why is his bail not lifted and him not home i feel like i have been very let down by police and cps surely this is wrong when the man is innocent

Daz 29/12/2019 at 11:43 pm

Was arrested for allegedly assaulting a member of family and taken to police station. There is no enough evidence and i have other family members who witnessed. The police have interviewed another family member same day but he was not arrested just was called to police station. I was arrested in the morning and later on releases on bail with condition. Im due to return in a month time for interview and so is my other family member but on different date. The victim is not participating any further other than providing her initial statement to police. Now, i already have criminal record previously against a member of family but alot more serious than this allegely one, and the victim has realized this hence i'm an easy target compare to rest of family members.

Niki 20/05/2019 at 6:29 pm

Hi I was under the influence of drink ,I got in my car and drove just up the road ,then realised I couldn’t do it stopped car and went to sleep ,the next thing the police were putting me there car and taking me to police stations,I have to appear in court next week ,I had 7 pints ,will I loose my driving licence,it’s just my mum is disabled,and needs me to take her to appointment,my grandad is at end of life care ,my Nan is blind and all rely on me what will happen

Rhon 08/05/2019 at 9:59 am

My son was caught drink driving in November 2018 and because the breathalyzer wasnt working he had blood taken in stead...he hasnt been charged as yet...he was less than one pint over the limit (he shouldnt have been drinker at all if he was driving ) they told him he should hear back from them within 3 months and now 6 months later and he is waiting to hear from them....should he contact them to find out what is going on

WAG 13/03/2018 at 11:00 pm

My daughter was arrested last year, interviewed by the police but never charged. Now, some 9 months later she has been taken to magistrates court who have passed the case onto Crown Court. My daughter is pleading not guilty (as she is not guilty) of the offence. How can she be taken to court without having been charged with the offence?

Michelle 10/03/2018 at 12:06 am

I got a caution when I was 17 which was 5 years ago and recently it’s popped up when work sent me to apply for an alcohol licence I’ve been told by a few people who I’ve asked advice from and they told me it should’ve been removed after 2 years because I was under 18 and I’ve done some searching myself online and that seems to be the case what can I do to resolve this if it was supposed to be removed 2 years after it happened its my only offence ever and I was forced into doing it through a very abusive situation at the time I’ve never been that sort of character and I’m very worried as to what altercations this will have with my job

KevU Editor 02/03/2018 at 11:03 am

@Me - if you have had a previous caution then it will be registered on your record.

Me 01/03/2018 at 2:53 pm

Hi I got a caution 6 1/2 years ago and now have been asked to attend police station for an interview under caution..was just wondering will I be know to the police or will my caution not show up?? Can I get another caution?

CourtroomAdvice Editor 01/03/2018 at 10:28 am

The fact your wife has retracted her statement against you and you have got back together as a family, does not mean the CPS will not go ahead with the charges. The CPS can rely upon the initial statement, decide to continue with the case and can still call your wife as a witness to give evidence in court. What the CPS will decide upon is whether there is enough evidence to prove you have committed the crime and whether it is in the public interest to prosecute.

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