Being arrested
Get help and understand the immediate steps after arrest.
Guidance and tools
Police and being arrested
Guidance about arrest, police powers, custody, interviews, charging, complaints and reporting crime.
Find out what the police can do, what your rights are and what may happen when a crime is reported or investigated.
About this information
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Being investigated or charged
Warrants and searches
Find guidance about warrants, searches and seized property.
Police custody
Understand custody rights, detention and available support.
Prepare for a police interview
Find guidance for voluntary interviews and interviews after arrest.
What to do after being charged
Check paperwork and prepare for the first hearing.
Get legal help
Choose the relevant legal aid or advice route.
Reporting crime and getting support
Report a crime
Choose a reporting route and find support.
Support for victims of crime
Find support before reporting, during a case and after sentencing.
Making a complaint
Complain about police conduct
Find the police complaints and review process.
Children and young people
Choose the stage relevant to you. Children do not necessarily go through every stage.
Help for children and young people
Choose guidance for police contact, court, custody or community supervision.
Disability, mental health and communication
Get extra support
Find help with communication, appropriate adults and support at each stage.
More guidance
Children and vulnerable adults in police custody
Learn what happens when a child or vulnerable adult is in police custody, including rights to legal advice, an appropriate adult and support with…
Tools and directories
Use a practical tool or search a structured criminal justice collection.
Police forces directory
Find police forces, contact details and linked custody suites.
Police custody suite directory
Find published location, contact, accessibility and professional information for custody suites.
Police custody suites map
Search mapped custody suites by police force, region and operational status.
MG forms
Find Manual of Guidance forms and understand when each form is used.
Offence classifications
Search active CJS offence codes, legislation and source classifications.