I want to become a Police Station Rep? - by Police Station Representative Directory
What do I need?
(a) Boundless energy and enthusiasm!
(b) Willing to work at unsocial hours.
Most, good (but not all) Police Station Reps work very antisocial hours similar to the force area that they work in. Interviews usually take place according to their shift patterns ie In the area where I work, i.e. Kent. Police shifts run from 7 am to 2 p.m, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. and 10 p.m to 7 a.m.
(c) Ability to get on with a wide variety of people from all kind of different backgrounds.
In my 25 years of doing this job I have dealt with all types of people, from drug addicts to High Court Judges. Clients may be aggressive, rude, difficult, demanding and can also be a joy to work with. You will hear stories of great suffering and great tragedy. Everyone has a story. In many cases you may not agree with their reasons for what they may have done but you will soon realise that everyone has a story. You will also need to get on with police officers who assume everyone is guilty just because they have been arrested.
(d) Empathy
You will need quite often to put yourself in the client's shoes. To be able to see the world from their viewpoint.
(e) A belief in Social Justice
Believe me! This helps. You must believe that everyone irrespective of race, creed or colour or indeed anything else, has a duty to be treated with dignity and respect whatever they are accused of doing. That even the worst mass murderer in history, whatever your personal feelings, should be treated according to the law and as a fellow human being.
(f) Police Station Accreditation
A little about that later......Warning! You have to pass exams! and then you can register on our police station representative directory.
(g) Contacts with Local Criminal Defence Firms
You won't be very good if no one wants to instruct you.
and last of all
(h) A very thick skin
You will be constantly asked by Friends, family and neighbours
,questions like How can you represent someone if you know he did it? Is he/she guilty?
The answer to that is:
The court decides if he/she is guilty, not me. And I can't tell you because what my client has told me is confidential and I cannot and will not reveal it. The principle of client confidentiality is paramount. Not even a court can force you to say what your client told you in confidence.
This article is written by Robert Cashman, a practicing criminal solicitor with a national firm of Criminal Solicitors. It does not purport to be a exact statement of English law but for guidance only and you should always get independent legal advice about your specific situation.
Robert can be contacted via https://www.policestationagent.com/