Voluntary interview

The police may contact you to invite you to attend for a voluntary police interview. The voluntary interview will take place under caution at the police station, and you will not be arrested or booked into custody.

You have the right to arrange for a solicitor, free of charge, to attend the voluntary interview with you.

The police will advise you, at the outset of the voluntary interview, that you are not under arrest and free to leave at any time. However, if you exercise your right to leave before or during the interview you may be arrested.

The police must inform the suspect that the purpose of the voluntary interview is to question them to obtain evidence about their involvement or suspected involvement in an offence.

What you say in a voluntary interview has the same weight if you had been arrested and interviewed. It remains an interview under caution.

The outcomes of a voluntary interview can be:

• no further action;
• Arrested and charged with a criminal offence;
• Released under investigation
• Reported for a charge to be considered against you which may result in you receiving a summons to attend court. If this happens you will be required to attend at the police station to provide your fingerprints, DNA sample and photograph; and
• Your consent may be sought by the police to take part in an identification parade or voluntarily surrender items such as phones and computers. If you fail to comply you may be arrested.
  • Where a suspect is vulnerable and unable to withstand pressure;
  • If a suspect wishes to reserve their position;
  • Avoid self-incrimination;
• You may know who the true culprit is but not want to name them for fear of reprisals;
• Your defence might involve admissions to some other damaging or embarrassing conduct;
• We are unable to fully advise you as the police have not given us enough disclosure; or
• The case is too complex or old to provide an immediate response
• Your state of mind at the time of interview. Perhaps you were suggestible or in a state of shock?
• You might be easily confused or vulnerable and liable to make mistakes in your account
• There is a need to refer to information that isn’t to hand in police interview to check an alibi
• We identify that there is some other good reason why you might not come over well in police interview