The Reference Section: Client and Case Details

Every attendance note in Custody Note begins with the Reference section. This tab exists to capture the information that identifies the attendance and the client — the data points you will return to when billing, when advising counsel, and when responding to any LAA query about the note.

What the Reference Section Captures

The Reference section is divided into clearly labelled fields:

• Client details — full name, date of birth, and contact details where recorded
• Custody reference — the unique reference assigned by the custody sergeant on arrival
• Custody suite — the police station and custody suite location
• Investigating officers — name(s) and warrant or collar numbers
• Offences alleged — the matters under investigation at the time of your attendance
• Time of instruction — when you received the call or instruction to attend
• Arrival time — your time of arrival at the custody suite

Why These Fields Matter

The custody reference number is the key linking your attendance note to the official custody record. If a billing dispute arises, the LAA will expect your note to be traceable to a specific detention record. Having the custody reference, the client's date of birth, and the custody suite name in the Reference section means that traceability is built in from the start.

Officer names and warrant numbers allow any later query about the investigation — disclosure given, interview conducted, decisions made — to be connected to specific individuals. This is particularly important in cases that proceed to charge.

Offences as a Structured Field

The offences section allows you to record the matters alleged at the time of attendance. This is distinct from any final charges, which are recorded in the Outcome section. Where the alleged offence changes during the attendance — for example, if a further matter is revealed in interview — you can update this field accordingly, and the change will be reflected in the completed note.

Time Fields and Billing

The time of instruction and arrival time fields feed directly into the billing picture. The difference between instruction and arrival represents travel and preparation time, which is a claimable element under the police station scheme. Recording both times accurately at the outset — rather than reconstructing them later — is one of the most practically valuable habits any representative can develop.