We are not the police — we are criminal defence solicitors. Immediate custody & booked VAI only — immediate family may instruct; not past arrests, post-release free advice, or general advice.
Criminal defence help for Kent custody and booked interviews
For defence firmsPolice Station Agent
Criminal defence for Kent custody and booked interviews
Fast, experienced criminal defence for current Kent custody and forthcoming voluntary interviews under caution — plus reliable agency cover for defence firms.
Choose your pathway
Select the route that matches your situation. The solicitor telephone is shown only after you qualify for current custody, or on the agency page for firms.
Booked interview
I have received a police letter, email or call inviting me to an interview under caution.
Request representationCurrent custody
A person is currently detained inside a Kent police station and requires legal representation.
Check whether we can helpSolicitor cover
I am instructing on behalf of a criminal defence firm and require police station attendance.
Request agency coverEstablished credentials
Robert Cashman — accredited duty solicitor & Higher Court Advocate via Tuckers Solicitors LLP. About Robert · Client testimonials
Client voices
Straight feedback from clients we sat with through custody and interview
Robert helped me when I was arrested in Swanley. I was very worried but he calmed me down and got me released without charge. Excellent service.
AK
from Swanley
First contact
We check if this is a voluntary interview or an arrest
We speak to the officer in the case and get the disclosure
We tell you plainly what to expect, how to prepare, and who will attend
Legal guides
Start with PACE Code C and the essentials: custody time limits, no comment interviews, bail, and voluntary interview risks.
Featured guide
Custody & interview rules (the core legal framework).
Read the guide →Interview strategy
When it helps, when it hurts, and adverse inference.
Custody rules
How long you can be held and what happens next.
After release
Bail conditions, extensions, and what to do.
Interview strategy
Don't attend without advice—protect yourself early.
After release
What it means and how to handle it.
Police station legal advice is free for everyone. When might you pay privately, what private cover includes, and how Kent fees typically work.
Read ArticleIndependent criminal defence solicitor for custody or a booked voluntary interview — not Kent Police. Telephone and SMS are on the Contact page.
For criminal defence firms
Instruct Robert Cashman for reliable police station agency attendance anywhere within about 45 minutes of Maidstone — custody, voluntary interviews, and pre-booked attendances.
Professional instruction routes — telephone details are on the agency and contact pages for firms.
Instruct cover (Contact)Firm enquiry formFull firm services →Coverage
We attend all Kent custody suites and voluntary interview locations. Regular extended-hours cover at North Kent (Gravesend) and Tonbridge — two of the county's main 24-hour custody facilities — alongside Medway, Maidstone, Canterbury and the rest of Kent.
North Kent (Gravesend)
Thames Way — 24-hour custody
Medway
Purser Way — 24-hour custody
Tonbridge
West Kent — custody & interviews
Also covering
Free police station advice in Kent · All Kent police station reps
All Kent stations: browse locations or police station directory.
How we can help
Someone with you at the police station, in court when you need it, and extra support if you instruct privately.
Expert legal advice during police interviews, voluntary attendances, and custody. Your right to free legal advice is protected by law.
Reliable duty solicitor services for criminal law firms. Comprehensive notes and competitive rates.
You deal with a senior solicitor directly — we stay involved from first call to the end of the case.
From station to court
Expert police station representation with a clean handover to the court advocate who will appear for you through our professional association with Tuckers Solicitors LLP. Your case handled by the right expert at every stage.
Expert early intervention
To court specialists
Magistrates & Crown
Robert Cashman
With over 35 years of criminal law experience, including roles as Practice Director and Higher Court Advocate, I specialise exclusively in police station representation.
Common questions
Yes. Everyone arrested or invited for a voluntary interview in Kent is entitled to free legal advice at the police station. This is a statutory right under PACE 1984 and is not means-tested. Legal Aid covers the cost of a duty solicitor attending the police station.
We aim to respond promptly. Attendance times depend on location, custody demand and solicitor availability.
We cover all Kent custody suites including Medway (Gillingham), Maidstone, North Kent (Gravesend), Canterbury, Tonbridge, Folkestone, Ashford, Sittingbourne, Margate, Dover, Sevenoaks, and Tunbridge Wells.
Yes, absolutely. Your solicitor is completely independent of the police and works only for YOU. We are not employed by, paid by, or connected to the police in any way. Legal Aid funds your representation, not the police. Everything you discuss with your solicitor is confidential and cannot be shared with the police without your consent.
A qualified solicitor is a fully trained legal professional who has completed the Legal Practice Course and training contract. A police station rep (accredited representative) is a non-solicitor who has passed the Police Station Qualification. Robert Cashman is a qualified solicitor with 35+ years experience — not just an accredited representative — providing expert independent legal advice at all Kent police stations.
Understanding the different legal roles helps you know what qualifications your representative has: Accredited Rep (Accredited Police Station Representative): A non-solicitor who has passed the Police Station Qualification (PSQ) to attend police stations on behalf of a solicitor's firm. They can provide legal advice and representation at police stations but are not qualified solicitors. Criminal Solicitor: A fully qualified solicitor who has completed the Legal Practice Course and training contract, admitted to practice criminal law. They can represent clients at police stations, magistrates' courts, and provide legal advice throughout the criminal process. Duty Solicitor: A qualified solicitor who is accredited by the Law Society and on the Legal Aid duty rota. They can provide free legal advice at both police stations and magistrates' courts under Legal Aid. A duty solicitor must be a qualified solicitor (not just an accredited rep). Higher Court Advocate: A solicitor who has obtained additional qualifications to appear in the Crown Court, representing clients in serious criminal matters including jury trials, sentencing hearings, and complex legal arguments. This is an advanced qualification beyond standard solicitor status. Robert Cashman is all four: He is an accredited police station representative, a qualified criminal solicitor, an accredited duty solicitor (for both police stations and courts), and a Higher Court Advocate with 5 years' experience appearing in Crown Court. This comprehensive qualification means he can represent you from the police station through to Crown Court if needed.
Read our comprehensive guide: Police Station Interviews in Kent: Your Rights and What to Expect — covering your rights under PACE 1984, what happens during interview, and the role of a solicitor.
General information only — not legal advice. While every care is taken to ensure what is stated is accurate and reflects current law and official guidance, errors may occur and the law changes. Do not rely on this page instead of advice from a qualified solicitor about your own situation. Legal services are provided through Tuckers Solicitors LLP (SRA ID: 127795) where applicable. If you believe something on this page is incorrect, please contact us and say you are reporting a content error.