Fictional voluntary interview: common assault at home
Invented attendance for Jordan Ellis (DOB 02/11/1988), invited voluntarily regarding a fictional common assault allegation at a home address. Voluntary interview — England and Wales.
Fictional training example — voluntary interview
Fictional training example only. All names, places, officers, and facts are invented. Not a real case, client, or police force. This layout does not guarantee Legal Aid Agency payment or audit acceptance.
Type: Voluntary interview. Sections below are labelled for training; your firm may use different headings.
Matter references & attendance type
Jurisdiction: England and Wales
Police ref: RV/26/118902 (fictional)
Location: Riverside Police Station — Interview Suite 2 (fictional)
Client: Jordan Ellis (DOB 02/11/1988) — fictional
Offence (as described when cautioned): common assault (Criminal Justice Act 1988, s.39) — fictional
Attendance type: voluntary — client not under arrest (confirmed with front desk and interviewer)
Instructed by: Harper & Co Solicitors (fictional); rep: Samira Okonkwo (fictional)
Instruction received: 08:40 on 04/10/2026
Arrived: 09:22; client arrived 09:28 (fictional)
Training note: Voluntary attendances still need a complete file record. PACE Code C paragraphs 3.21A–3.22 cover information before a voluntary interview and confirmation the interview may proceed.
Disclosure
Disclosure from: PC Rivera (fictional), 09:35
Allegation: during argument at 14 Linden Close on 01/10/2026 complainant (partner) alleges client grabbed left arm causing bruising (fictional)
Disclosed: short witness statement; one photograph of bruising to upper arm (fictional)
Not disclosed: body-worn video stated 'pending review'; 999 call recording not provided
Gap noted: absence of BWV may matter to account — requested update
Training note: Record what was disclosed before consultation, not what the client later tells you.
Instructions
Consultation: 09:38–10:05 (fictional)
Client account: argument occurred; client denies grabbing complainant; says they left room when voices raised; worried about family court implications (fictional)
Instructions: wishes to give full account in interview; maintain denial
Training note: Instructions only — no advice mixed in.
Advice given (with reasons)
Confirmed voluntary status: free to leave; interview may proceed only if client agrees (PACE Code C 3.22 — confirmation recorded in interview opening)
Advised on strengths/risks: photograph and statement create evidential issue; BWV unknown; full account puts client's version on record but locks in consistency risk if further material emerges
Advised on caution and that answers may be used in evidence
Client elects full account after considering no comment and prepared statement
Training note: Show options considered and reasons at a proportionate level — not a transcript of consultation.
Representations
Asked interviewer to confirm voluntary basis on recording before substantive questions
Requested break at 10:28 when client became distressed — granted 8 minutes (fictional)
Training note: Welfare breaks and voluntary status checks are representations / attendance facts, not interview content.
Interview record
Interview: 10:12–10:44 (fictional)
Officers: PC Rivera, PC Singh (fictional)
Recording: audio/video (fictional)
Client gave account consistent with consultation: denial of contact; left room; offered phone location data (fictional theme)
No improper questions requiring objection beyond welfare break (fictional)
Training note: Summarise approach and themes; separate from instructions and advice sections.
Outcome
Outcome: no further action pending review of BWV (fictional)
Advised client may be contacted again; instruct firm if re-arrested or re-invited
Departure: 10:52 (fictional)
Training note: Record disposal and practical follow-up clearly.
Time recording (illustrative)
Travel: 42 min (fictional)
Waiting: 6 min (fictional)
Consultation: 27 min (fictional)
Interview: 32 min (fictional)
Admin: 9 min (fictional)
Training note: Voluntary matters still attract police station fixed fee work when claimed — times must be credible and segmented where required by your firm and the contract.
Source register (England and Wales)
References below were checked against published Home Office and Legal Aid Agency documents. They support why these training examples separate disclosure, instructions, advice, representations, interview and outcome — not whether a particular note format guarantees payment.
| Document | Section / paragraph | Effective | Date checked | Rule supported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PACE Code C 2023 (Home Office) | Commencement (applies to detainees after 00:00 on 20 December 2023) | 20 December 2023 | 2026-10-05 | Which edition of Code C applies to non-terrorism police custody in England and Wales. |
| Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, section 58 | s.58(1) (right to consult privately with a solicitor) | Revised text in force | 2026-10-05 | Statutory right to consult privately with a solicitor at any time; attendance notes should record private consultation separately from disclosure. |
| PACE Code C 2023 (accessible HTML) | Section 6 and Note 6J (consult privately with a solicitor) | 20 December 2023 | 2026-10-05 | How private consultation is arranged and recorded in custody; separate from disclosure to the suspect. |
| PACE Code C 2023 (accessible HTML) | Paragraph 6.8 (solicitor present when interviewed) | 20 December 2023 | 2026-10-05 | Entitlement to have the solicitor present when interviewed (subject to paragraph 6.6 exceptions). |
| PACE Code C 2023 (accessible HTML) | Paragraph 11.1A (information about the offence before interview) | 20 December 2023 | 2026-10-05 | Pre-interview disclosure to the suspect (and what your note should distinguish from consultation). |
| PACE Code C 2023 (accessible HTML) | Paragraph 12.8 (breaks from interviewing) | 20 December 2023 | 2026-10-05 | Interview timing and breaks are material custody-suite facts to record. |
| PACE Code C 2023 (accessible HTML) | Paragraphs 3.21A–3.21B and 3.22 (voluntary interview) | 20 December 2023 | 2026-10-05 | Voluntary interviews: information given before questioning and confirmation the interview may proceed. |
| Standard Crime Contract 2025 (Legal Aid Agency) | Specification Version 2 (effective from 31 December 2025) | 31 December 2025 | 2026-10-05 | Current published Standard Crime Contract specification for England and Wales. |
| 2025 Standard Crime Contract — Specification (PDF) | Paragraph 8.33 (Assessment: timed and dated attendance notes) | 31 December 2025 (Version 2) | 2026-10-05 | Claims may be reduced where work is not evidenced by timed and dated attendance notes on file. |
| 2025 Standard Crime Contract — Specification (PDF) | Paragraph 8.34 (written evidence for payment) | 31 December 2025 (Version 2) | 2026-10-05 | Claims without supporting written evidence are not paid under the contract. |
| 2025 Standard Crime Contract — Specification (PDF) | Paragraph 9.15 (DSCC reference on file) | 31 December 2025 (Version 2) | 2026-10-05 | Police station matters: DSCC reference number recorded and kept on file. |
| 2025 Standard Crime Contract — Specification (PDF) | Paragraph 9.21 (instruction acceptance and first contact times) | 31 December 2025 (Version 2) | 2026-10-05 | Police station advice files: times instructions accepted and first client contact. |
| 2025 Standard Crime Contract — Specification (PDF) | Paragraph 9.22 (written agent report) | 31 December 2025 (Version 2) | 2026-10-05 | Written report when an agent or accredited representative concludes the matter. |