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What to do if…
police ask you to come in for an interview, photograph, or recording

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Treat this as a legal situation, not a quick chat. Before you attend or agree to be photographed, recorded, interviewed, or give a statement, ask whether it is voluntary or required and get legal advice if there is any chance you are a suspect.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t “pop in quickly” without knowing whether you are being treated as a suspect, witness, volunteer, detainee, or arrested person.
  • Don’t agree to an interview, statement, photograph, voice recording, video recording, fingerprint, sample, or identification procedure just because it sounds routine.
  • Don’t discuss the incident on the phone “just to clarify” before you know your position.
  • Don’t guess answers, fill gaps, or try to explain everything informally.
  • Don’t delete, edit, hide, or alter messages, photos, call logs, location data, posts, clothing, or other possible evidence after police contact.
  • Don’t rely on a friend or relative as a substitute for legal advice.
  • Don’t ignore the request if police say attendance is required or connected to bail, release conditions, a charge, or a formal notice; get legal advice urgently.

What to do now

  1. Get the details in writing if possible. Ask for the officer’s name, collar or warrant number, station, phone number, case or reference number, and exactly what they want from you.
  2. Ask whether you are a suspect or witness. Use plain words: “Am I being asked to attend as a witness, as a suspect, or for a voluntary interview under caution?”
  3. Ask whether attendance is voluntary. Say: “Am I free to decline, rearrange, leave, or stop the process, or am I legally required to attend?” If the answer is unclear, treat it as serious and get legal advice before going.
  4. Ask what the recording or photograph is for. Ask whether they want an interview recording, voice sample, video, photograph, fingerprint, DNA or other sample, written statement, or identification procedure, and what legal basis they are relying on.
  5. Do not consent until you have advice if you may be a suspect. Say: “I want legal advice before I decide whether to attend, answer questions, consent, or provide any recording, photograph, sample, or statement.”
  6. Arrange legal advice before any interview or recording. The route differs across the UK. Ask the police, or a criminal defence solicitor, how legal advice will be arranged before any interview or recording, and do not start answering questions while you are still trying to get advice.
  7. Control the appointment. If you do attend, agree a time when your solicitor can attend or be available, confirm where to report, and avoid informal conversation about the incident while waiting.
  8. Ask for support needs before you attend. If you are under 18, have a mental health condition, learning disability, communication difficulty, need an interpreter, or need accessibility adjustments, say this clearly and ask what safeguard or support will be arranged before any interview or recording.
  9. Write a private note for your solicitor. Record who contacted you, when, what they asked for, whether they said it was voluntary, any deadline, and anything you already said. Do not hand this note to police unless your solicitor advises it.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide now whether to “cooperate fully” or “fight it.”
  • You do not need to prepare a perfect explanation, apology, timeline, or statement before legal advice.
  • You do not need to contact other people involved.
  • You do not need to post about it, message witnesses, or try to investigate it yourself.
  • You do not need to decide long-term strategy before you know whether you are a witness, suspect, volunteer, detained person, or arrested person.

Important reassurance

Being contacted by police can happen for many reasons, including routine inquiries. Slowing the process down, asking your status, and getting legal advice is a normal protective step, not an admission of guilt.

Scope note

These are first steps only. Later decisions about interviews, statements, evidence, identification procedures, complaints, bail, charges, or court should be handled with specialist legal help.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, medical, financial, therapeutic, or other professional advice. Police powers, legal aid, safeguards, and terminology differ across England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, so check the process that applies where you are.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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