Key takeaways
- Firms search by county, station, and name — incomplete profiles drop out of results.
- Mobile numbers and areas covered are the fields fee-earners check first.
- A maintained profile supports repeat work alongside communication standards.
What firms scan in the first ten seconds
When a duty fee-earner opens a rep profile during a live arrest, they typically look for:
- Accreditation they recognise for the scheme they use
- Counties and stations matching the custody suite
- A working mobile — not a generic office line that goes to voicemail
- Signals of availability — notes, WhatsApp community membership, or recent responsiveness
If any of those are missing, they click the next result.
Fields worth updating today
| Field | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Counties covered | Drives directory filters and county hub pages |
| Stations | Helps station-level discovery |
| Mobile / email | Direct instruction route |
| Accreditation | Firm panel and insurer checks |
| Short notes | Out-of-hours limits, languages, specialisms |
Log in via Account after registration. New reps start at How to become a police station rep.
Avoid these profile mistakes
- Stale mobile numbers after a SIM change
- Copy-paste county lists you do not actually cover
- Empty station fields when you routinely attend named suites
- No response to test calls from firms checking your listing
These issues are fixable in minutes and directly affect whether you appear in directory search.
Link profile quality to repeat instructions
Representatives who win repeat work combine accurate listings with reliable attendance — see winning repeat instructions. Your directory row is the first impression before any handover note exists.
Training resources: PSR Train · Attendance notes: CustodyNote
General professional information — not legal advice.