Quick answer
A police station representative is an accredited professional who attends custody on behalf of a criminal defence solicitor firm to advise clients, support interviews, and safeguard PACE rights. PoliceStationRepUK is a free directory that helps firms find such representatives across England and Wales.
Definition
A police station representative (sometimes called a police station agent or rep) is someone who attends a police station to deliver legal advice and assistance to a suspect or volunteer, under the instruction of a solicitor firm. The representative is part of the firm's operational model for police station representation — not a replacement for the firm's professional accountability.
What they do in custody
Typical tasks include:
- Taking instructions and explaining the allegation and process in plain language.
- Advising on the right to legal advice, silence, and the caution (where appropriate).
- Reviewing disclosure (within what the police provide at that stage).
- Being present in the interview to intervene on fairness and legal issues.
- Liaising with the officer in the case and updating the instructing solicitor.
Relationship to criminal solicitors
Criminal solicitors and duty solicitor firms use reps to extend police station cover when in-house lawyers are in court, on other arrests, or off rota. The directory exists to make that matching faster, especially for urgent and out-of-hours work.
PACE and professional standards
Attendance is governed by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) and the Codes of Practice. Reps must work within the framework set by the instructing firm and applicable regulators. For introductory reading, see our PACE overview and police station rights guide (general information only).
How PoliceStationRepUK helps
We do not provide legal advice. We publish profiles of accredited representatives and search tools so criminal law firms can filter by county, station, and accreditation. Registration for reps is free. If you are a firm, start with the directory and advanced search.
Compare roles: Duty solicitor vs police station rep.
Frequently asked questions
Is a police station representative a solicitor?
Not always. Many reps are accredited representatives who attend under the supervision of a solicitor firm. Some solicitors also attend custody themselves. The key is proper accreditation and firm responsibility for the retainer.
What accreditation is required?
Requirements depend on the scheme (e.g. Law Society police station accreditation). Firms must ensure anyone attending meets the standards that apply to their practice and to legal aid where relevant.
How do firms find a rep?
They use directories like PoliceStationRepUK, internal panels, WhatsApp networks, and call-centre arrangements. The directory is free to search and lists profiles by area and station.