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What to do if…
you receive an official request to meet an investigator at a location you did not expect

Short answer

Pause and verify the request independently using official contact details, then get legal advice before you agree to any meeting or answer questions.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t go to the location “just to clear it up”, especially alone or at short notice.
  • Don’t confirm details, “explain your side”, or answer questions on the phone/in messages before legal advice.
  • Don’t rely on a callback number, QR code, or link contained in the message/letter if you weren’t expecting it.
  • Don’t bring phones/unlocked devices or documents “to help” unless a solicitor advises you to.
  • Don’t ignore it entirely if it appears genuine—verify first, then respond in a controlled way.

What to do now

  1. Move yourself to a calmer, safe setting and slow the timeline. You can say: “I’ve received your message. I need to verify this and get advice. Please put the request in writing.”
  2. Treat “unexpected location” as unverified until proven otherwise. A real investigator can still ask—but off-site meetings increase risk, and impersonation scams exist.
  3. Confirm who they claim to be (police or non-police) and verify via an official main contact (not theirs).
    • Ask for: full name, role, organisation, and a reference/case number.
    • Then use an official website to find the organisation’s main switchboard/public contact and ask to be put through to that person/unit.
  4. If they claim to be police, verify via the force switchboard. Ask the force to confirm the officer’s details and the reference number, and whether they are requesting a voluntary interview or appointment.
  5. Ask for the purpose and status in writing, without discussing the facts. Request:
    • whether this is a voluntary interview / voluntary attendance (and whether it is under caution),
    • whether you are being approached as a suspect, witness, or victim,
    • the proposed location, and why it isn’t a police station.
  6. If it involves police questioning in England & Wales (including a voluntary interview), ask for a solicitor immediately and do not attend without one.
    • Say: “I want legal advice and a solicitor present. I will not be interviewed without one.”
    • For police interviews in England & Wales, free and independent legal advice is available (often arranged via the Defence Solicitor Call Centre and/or the duty solicitor).
  7. If the “investigator” is non-police (for example a local authority, regulator, or other enforcement body), assume legal advice may not be free and still get a solicitor before you meet.
    • Ask them to set out the legal basis for the interview/meeting and whether you are under caution.
    • Request the meeting be in an official setting and that you can have a solicitor present.
  8. If they insist on a non-official location, request a safer alternative.
    • Ask to meet at a police station (if police) or the organisation’s official office (if non-police), with your solicitor attending.
    • If they refuse to move it and you cannot verify it, treat it as not verified and do not attend.
  9. If you are in prison, on remand, on licence, or under probation supervision:
    • Use formal channels to verify identity (case number, organisation, named contact) and request legal advice through the prison/probation process available to you.
    • Do not agree to an “off-record chat” without advice; ask for it to be arranged formally where appropriate.
  10. Preserve what you received, exactly. Keep the envelope/letter/voicemail/screenshot and note date/time/location, names, and reference numbers. This helps your solicitor verify and respond.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide today whether to “cooperate” or to give an account.
  • You do not need to gather documents, timelines, messages, or explanations until you’ve had legal advice.
  • You do not need to work out whether you are “in trouble” right now—verification and representation come first.

Important reassurance

Feeling panicked is normal: an unexpected “official” request can trigger worst-case thinking. Verifying identity and asking for a solicitor are standard protective steps.

Scope note

This is first-steps guidance to reduce risk and buy time. Next steps depend on whether you are a suspect, witness, or victim and on which UK jurisdiction applies (England & Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland).

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. Procedures and rights vary by UK jurisdiction and by whether the contact is police or another enforcement body. If you may be interviewed or questioned, getting a solicitor before you attend is usually the safest immediate step.

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