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What to do if…
you learn there may already be a warrant in your name and you do not know what to do next

Short answer

Pause, don’t do anything that escalates, and get a solicitor to help you verify what’s real and what to do next before you contact police or a court yourself.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t “test it” by turning up at a police station or court without advice — you could be arrested on the spot.
  • Don’t make non-essential travel plans (especially airports/ferries) until you’ve checked what’s going on.
  • Don’t ignore it and hope it disappears — warrants typically get harder to deal with over time.
  • Don’t pay anyone who calls/texts saying you must pay “to clear a warrant” (especially by gift cards, bank transfer, crypto, or courier). That’s a common scam.
  • Don’t post about it on social media or message lots of people for “intel” — it can create misunderstandings and records you didn’t intend.
  • Don’t carry anything that could turn a routine stop into a bigger problem (for example: drugs, someone else’s ID, or anything you shouldn’t have).

What to do now

  1. Get yourself to a calm, safe pause and write down the basics (2 minutes).
    Note: who told you, what exactly they said, any reference numbers, dates, and which area/force/court it might relate to. Save screenshots/voicemails if relevant.

  2. Sanity-check for scams immediately.
    If you were contacted by phone/text/email: do not call back on their number. Real police/courts do not demand immediate payment in unusual ways “to stop an arrest”.

  3. Speak to a criminal defence solicitor before you contact police or attend anywhere.
    Say: “I’ve been told there may be an outstanding warrant in my name. I need help verifying it and choosing the safest next step.”
    If you don’t have one, use official services to find legal aid advisers (or a regulated solicitor you can pay privately) and ask for an urgent call-back.

  4. If you cannot reach a solicitor quickly, use a phone/online enquiry route first — not a walk-in.

    • Police (non-emergency): call 101 or use your local force’s official online contact route to ask what the safest next step is to verify your status.
    • If you are told you must attend in person, pause and get solicitor advice before you go.

  5. If you think it’s court-related (missed hearing, fines, “failure to attend”), identify the likely court and ask the safest way to check status.

    • England & Wales: use “Find a court or tribunal” to get the correct contact details, then ask what they can confirm by phone/email and whether a solicitor should make the enquiry.
    • Scotland: use the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service “Find us”/court finder to reach the right office and ask the safest way to check case status.
    • Northern Ireland: use NI Courts and Tribunals contact routes to reach the relevant court office and ask how to check case status safely.
      Do not attend in person to ask “is there a warrant” unless your solicitor has advised you to.

  6. Reduce the risk of an avoidable arrest while you’re verifying.

    • Stay reachable (charged phone, voicemail on).
    • Keep photo ID and any relevant paperwork together at home.
    • Tell one trusted person where your ID/medications are, just in case you’re unexpectedly taken to a station.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide “whether to fight the case” right now.
  • You do not need to explain yourself to friends/family, employers, or online.
  • You do not need to gather lots of evidence or write a detailed statement tonight — first verify whether anything actually exists and what type it is.

Important reassurance

Hearing “there might be a warrant” is inherently panic-inducing — and people often pass on partial, wrong, or exaggerated information. The safest move is to slow down, verify through official channels, and use a solicitor to avoid one wrong step (like walking into a building) turning into an unnecessary arrest.

Scope note

This is first steps only, to help you verify and avoid common mistakes. Once you know whether it’s real (and what type), a solicitor can advise on the correct next step for your specific situation.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. Processes vary across the UK and by the type of warrant and court. If you are in immediate danger or need urgent help, call 999.

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