Legal FAQ

Attending A Police Station

It is a very stressful experience to be interviewed by police as a suspect of a crime. There are many advantages associated with having an experienced criminal lawyer with you when you go, such as being able to argue for bail without going to court and settling disputed facts with police before they are committed to writing.

Some things to keep in mind are:
It may not be necessary for you to actually go to the Police Station. Sometimes they only need you to attend in order to gather evidence against you, in which case you need to have a lawyer by your side.

In some cases you are required by law to provide a response to police - check with a lawyer beforehand what these situations are Each case is unique - don't assume anything from previous advice or situations you may have heard about.

Character References

Character references are often used to back up an argument by your lawyer in the court. They can be written by anyone that knows you, whether it be your wife, your child, your friend or someone you work with. They just need to be from someone who has something positive or useful to say about you.

Character references are an important part of your defence, as it allows the Judge to look at you for who you really are, rather than just judging you for whatever your offence was. They are used to emphasize the positive points about you that your lawyer will use in your trial.

For more information on character references contact Criminal Defence Experts.

Media

Tasers

Should Australian Police use Tasers?  Is the Taser the right non lethal option to a gun?   They've been issued to frontline officers in tactical response groups in some states since 2000. This episode of  INSIGHT will examine the use and abuse of Tasers.   Revelations that a Perth man was Tasered 13 times in a police watchhouse has brought condemnation from the WA Police Commissioner.  As a...

Sergeant slammed for stun gun assault

By Bellinda Kontomina, The Sydney Morning Herald December 20, 2009  THE actions of a police sergeant who fired a Taser stun gun at a man as he walked along Sydney's Oxford Street were ''unlawful and improper'', a magistrate has found. “I believe where possible that a defendant ought to know that he will no longer be facing criminal charges.'' Mr Alkan is suing NSW Police over the arrest. Read the full...