Key takeaways
- Use a police station attendance checklist so preparation, custody desk steps, and reporting stay consistent.
- Document disclosure, outcomes, and follow-ups the same day — tired fee earners skim predictable headings.
- Align with the firm’s PACE awareness and your accreditation limits; this is operational guidance, not case advice.
Questions this article answers
- What should a rep verify before travelling to custody?
- What belongs in post-attendance notes for the instructing firm?
- How do voluntary interviews differ in practice from booked-in custody?
Before you travel
This police station attendance checklist is a field aide — adapt it to the instructing firm and the venue.
- Confirm station, suite, and booking window with the firm and custody where possible.
- Re-read the brief; flag gaps (missing DOB, offence detail, AA/interpreter).
- Charge phone; pack notepad, pen, firm notepaper if used, and any required ID for professional visitors.
- Know who to call for escalations (named solicitor, not a generic switchboard if avoidable).
Arrival and custody desk
- Identify yourself and the instructing firm clearly.
- Note time of arrival, custody officer name/badge if given, and any delay reasons.
- Confirm legal consultation room availability and whether the client is ready.
Private consultation
- Take a full initial account in the firm’s preferred format.
- Check health, medication, sleep, understanding — and whether an AA or interpreter is required.
- Align on interview approach with the firm’s headline instruction; document if the client wishes to depart from it after advice.
- Explain next steps in plain English; confirm the client understands they can stop for advice during interview breaks.
Disclosure and interview
- Obtain whatever disclosure the officer will give; note gaps politely if material is missing.
- During the interview, intervene on PACE fairness where appropriate; avoid turning into an advocate outside your role.
- Track breaks, legal consultations mid-interview, and any changes to alleged facts.
Outcomes
Record accurately:
- Charge, NFA, bail, RUI, voluntary end, or re-schedule.
- Dates of return to station or court.
- Property, phones, bail conditions summarised.
- Any warnings or ancillary processes the firm must know about the same day.
Post-attendance reporting
Send structured notes quickly — see handover notes best practice. Include time in / time out, who you saw, disclosure summary, outcome, and follow-up tasks for the firm.
Professional hygiene
- Store notes per firm policy; avoid personal devices for client data.
- If something went wrong (late arrival, disclosure dispute), say so early — firms forgive problems they know about; they rarely forgive surprises a week later.
Stay visible for the next instruction
Keep your directory profile accurate on counties, hours, and accreditation so firms can match you to live demand. Firms planning cover may also use police station cover overview before they instruct.
Operational guidance — not legal advice. Follow your accreditation body rules and supervising firm instructions.