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.
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 articleCustody 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 articleOver 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 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 articleThe Fees tab brings together all the time information from across the attendance note and presents it as a structured billing record. Here is how to use it to support your LAA police station claims.
Read articleOnce the interview is complete, the custody sergeant will make a decision about the client's future. The Outcome tab in Custody Note captures that decision and the circumstances surrounding it.
Read articleThe 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 articleThe Interview tab 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 articleThe consultation with your client is the most legally sensitive part of any police station attendance. Custody Note's Consultation tab gives you a structured way to record the advice given without compromising privilege.
Read articleThe 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 articleDisclosure at the police station is often limited and sometimes misleading. The Disclosure tab in Custody Note gives you a structured place to record exactly what was — and was not — provided by the investigating officers.
Read articleThe 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 articleThe Custody tab 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 articleThe 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 articleThe Reference section is the first tab in every Custody Note attendance note. It captures the identifying information that anchors the entire record — client details, the custody suite, investigating officers, and the alleged offences.
Read articleWhen 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 articleCustody 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.