Police Station Reps - Tunbridge Wells Police Station

What happens if you refuse to attend a voluntary interview with the police as a suspect in England ?

In England, a voluntary police interview is also known as a "caution plus 3" interview. This is because the police must caution you and explain your rights before the interview begins.

The term "voluntary" means that you are not under arrest and you are free to leave at any time. However, it's worth noting that if you refuse to attend a voluntary interview, several things could happen:

No Action: If the police do not have enough evidence to charge you, they might decide to take no further action.

Arrest: If the police believe they have sufficient evidence or if they think you might not cooperate fully without the formality of an arrest (for instance, if you refuse a voluntary interview), they could arrest you. This would then mean that you would be held in custody until the police have interviewed you under caution at the police station.

Summons to Court: The police might choose to simply forward the case to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), who could then decide to issue a summons to court if they believe there is enough evidence to warrant a prosecution. This would involve you receiving a letter in the post telling you when to attend court.

Remember that even though the interview is voluntary, anything you say can still be used as evidence. So, it's advisable to have a solicitor present during any type of police interview, whether it's voluntary or not.

Every case is unique, so the exact circumstances can greatly affect what might happen. The above are possible general outcomes, but they might not apply to all cases.