Legal Information
- Basic Legal Rights
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Your Basic Legal Rights
More so than ever in the current climate it is essential that everyone is aware of their legal rights and entitlements in the following situations:
On arrest by police
If you are detained in custody by the police for any reason, you are entitled to:
- Free legal advice at all times;
- Call your family, friend or relative to notify them of your arrest;
- Not to answer questions or discuss your case without obtaining legal advice;
- Request for a doctor to see you if you have any injuries as a result of the arrest taking place.
If you are under 17, you will be dealt with as a youth. This means that you must have an adult with you before you can be interviewed at the police station.
On contact by MI5 or Anti-Terrorist Branch
If you are contacted by officers of MI5 or Special Branch, also known as Anti-Terrorist Branch, make sure you:
- Do obtain the officer’s name and telephone number;
- Do ask for legal advice;
- Do make a note of when the officers contacted you and what they said.
- Don’t answer their questions until you get legal advice;
- Don’t discuss your own or anybody else’s movements;
- Don’t be misled if officers say they need you to assist them.
