Legal Aid
LAA Billing for Police Station Work: What Changed in 2026
Key changes to LAA police station billing in 2026. Fixed fees, escape cases, and how your attendance notes affect claim success.
Read articleBlog & Guides
Practical articles on police station representation, PACE, attendance notes, legal aid, and custody records — written for criminal defence solicitors and accredited representatives in England and Wales.
App Features
Settings and Customisation in Custody Note
Custody Note's settings allow you to configure default values for your practice — firm name, billing preferences, and note defaults — so that each new attendance note starts with your information already in place.
Read articleLegal Aid
Why Your Attendance Notes Would Fail an LAA Audit
Common reasons attendance notes fail LAA audits. Missing time entries, vague narratives, incomplete billing fields. How to fix them.
Read articleApp Features
Offline-First: Why Custody Note Works Without Internet
Custody suites are not always well-connected. Custody Note is built to work reliably without an internet connection — here is what that means in practice and why it matters.
Read articleApp Features
No Wi-Fi at the Station? How to Work Offline Effectively
Practical tips for solicitors and reps working without internet at police stations. Offline notes, sync strategies, and tools.
Read articleApp Features
Managing Your Case Records in Custody Note
Over time, Custody Note builds a searchable, structured library of your police station attendance notes. Here is how the records list works and how to find, review, and export past notes.
Read articleLegal Aid
How Legal Aid Applies at the Police Station
Legal aid at the police station is unlike legal aid for court proceedings: it is not means-tested, it covers both telephone advice and physical attendance, and it operates through the duty solicitor scheme. Here is how it works in practice.
Read articleAttendance Notes
The Real Cost of Handwritten Attendance Notes
Handwritten police station attendance notes cost more than you think. Time lost, billing errors, audit risk, and file quality. A practical analysis.
Read articleApp Features
Fees and LAA Billing in Custody Note
The Time Recording & Fees section brings together every time entry from across the attendance and presents it as a structured billing record. Here is how to use it to support your LAA police station claims.
Read articlePolice Interviews
The 5 Minutes After the Interview That Most Reps Waste
What experienced police station reps do in the 5 minutes after a PACE interview. Attendance note tips that save hours later.
Read articleApp Features
Recording the Outcome in Custody Note
Once the interview is complete, the custody sergeant will make a decision about the client's future. The Outcome section in Custody Note captures that decision and the circumstances surrounding it.
Read articleCustody Records
Common Mistakes in Custody Records
The custody record is an official document maintained throughout a suspect's detention. Mistakes — whether through carelessness or procedural failure — can have significant implications for a case. Here is what representatives should look for on arrival.
Read articleAttendance Notes
Attendance Notes for Juvenile Clients: Extra Requirements
What to record when your client at the police station is under 18. Appropriate adults, welfare checks, and additional safeguards.
Read articleApp Features
Interview Notes: The Interview Section Explained
The Interview section in Custody Note is where you record what happened in the police interview — the structure of questioning, the client's approach, and any issues arising during the interview itself.
Read articleAttendance Notes
Vulnerable Clients at the Police Station: Note-Taking Essentials
How to record attendance notes for vulnerable clients at the police station. Mental health, learning difficulties, communication needs, and safeguards.
Read articleApp Features
The Consultation Section: Recording Your Advice
The consultation with your client is the most legally sensitive part of any police station attendance. Custody Note's Consultation section gives you a structured way to record the advice given without compromising privilege.
Read articlePACE
Understanding PACE in Police Interviews
The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and its Codes of Practice form the legal framework for every police interview in England and Wales. Here is a concise guide to the provisions most relevant to police station representatives.
Read articlePolice Interviews
No Comment Interviews: What Your Notes Must Show
Recording a no comment interview in your attendance notes. What to include, adverse inferences, and why your record matters.
Read articleCustody Records
How to Record Disclosure Notes at the Police Station
What to record about police disclosure before interview. Types of disclosure, recording best practice, and why your notes matter.
Read articleApp Features
How Custody Note Handles Disclosure
Disclosure at the police station is often limited and sometimes misleading. The Disclosure section in Custody Note gives you a structured place to record exactly what was — and was not — provided by the investigating officers.
Read articlePolice Interviews
Do You Always Need a Solicitor in Interview?
The right to legal advice at the police station exists in all cases. But does every suspect need a solicitor present during interview? Understanding when legal representation is most critical helps clients make an informed decision.
Read articlePACE
PACE Code C and Attendance Notes: What Solicitors Must Record
What PACE Code C requires you to record during police station attendance. Practical guidance for solicitors and reps.
Read articleApp Features
Recording the Custody Stage in Custody Note
The Custody Record section captures the core detention information: grounds for detention, rights given, time of arrest, and any decisions made by the custody sergeant. Here is how to use it.
Read articleAttendance Notes
What Makes a Good Police Station Attendance Note?
The attendance note is the central document of any police station representation. Here is what distinguishes a note that will withstand LAA scrutiny and serve your client's case from one that will not.
Read articleApp Features
The Reference Section: Client and Case Details
The Reference section is the first section in every Custody Note attendance. It captures the identifying information that anchors the entire record — client details, the custody suite, instructing firm, and the alleged offences.
Read articleApp Features
Starting a New Note: From the Call to the First Screen
When you get the call from the DSCC or your client, you want to be recording information immediately. Here is how Custody Note gets you to a new note as quickly as possible.
Read articleApp Features
A First Look at the Custody Note App
Custody Note is purpose-built attendance note software for criminal defence solicitors and accredited police station representatives. Here is what you see when you first open it.
Read articleThese articles are written for criminal defence practitioners and are intended as general information only. They do not constitute legal advice. Solicitors and accredited representatives should exercise their own professional judgment in each case.