Police Station Attendance Checklist (UK)
A free, printable checklist for criminal defence solicitors and accredited police station representatives in England and Wales. Use it at the station or in training — workflow guidance for professional record-keeping, not legal advice.
No sign-up required. Last updated May 2026.
Disclaimer: Professional workflow aid only. Not legal advice. Adapt to your firm's standards and the Standard Crime Contract.
For narrative guidance, see how to write attendance notes, the UK pillar guide, and scenario guides for no comment interviews, juveniles, and bail outcomes.
1. Instruction & arrival
- Date and time instruction received (DSCC / firm / direct)
- DSCC reference and police station name
- Time of departure and arrival at station
- Custody record number (when available)
- Client name, date of birth, and age (juvenile safeguards if under 18)
- Instructing firm and fee earner / reference
- Alleged offence(s) as disclosed at this stage
- Appropriate adult / interpreter booked or present (if required)
2. Custody & welfare
- Time detention authorised / clock relevant to attendance
- Client's presentation — fitness, intoxication, vulnerability
- PACE reviews noted (times and outcomes if observed)
- Healthcare or AA concerns raised with custody staff
- Consultation privacy confirmed before taking instructions
3. Disclosure
- Disclosure type — initial, further, oral, written
- Summary of allegation and key evidence disclosed
- Gaps identified — what was requested and response
- Representations for further disclosure (if made)
- Advice on interviewing with incomplete disclosure (if relevant)
4. Consultation
- Persons present in consultation
- Client's account / instructions taken
- Advice given — caution, silence, account, prepared statement
- Adverse inference warning if no comment advised
- Interview strategy agreed with client
5. Interview
- Interview start and end times; breaks with reasons
- Interviewing officers (names / ranks)
- Recording method — audio / video / written
- Client approach — account, no comment, prepared statement
- Key themes of questioning (not a full transcript)
- Significant admissions, denials, or inconsistencies noted
- Objections to improper questions — basis and officer response
- Welfare breaks or fitness concerns during interview
6. Outcome & bail
- Outcome — NFA, charged, bailed, RUI, further detention, other
- Offence(s) charged or under investigation
- Court date and court name (if charged)
- Bail conditions recorded in full (not "standard bail")
- Client advice on conditions, court attendance, and compliance
- Representations on bail / RUI (if made)
7. Time recording & billing
- Travel time (to and from station)
- Waiting time with brief reason
- Consultation time
- Interview time (including internal breaks)
- Post-interview time and representations
- Fee type — fixed fee, escape, telephone advice, etc.
- UFN / CRM / billing reference fields completed for firm
8. Before you leave the building
- Attendance note complete enough for a supervisor to follow
- Outcome and bail advice recorded — not left for later
- PDF or firm export triggered if your workflow requires same-day filing
- Diary entries — bail return, hearing, disclosure chase
- Follow-up tasks flagged for firm (counsel, housing, youth services, etc.)
Related free resources
- All free tools & templates
- Bail & RUI follow-up checklist
- Attendance note template (UK)
- Press & educators — link to our resources
Frequently asked questions
Is this checklist legal advice?
No. It is professional workflow guidance for solicitors and accredited representatives recording police station attendances in England and Wales. It does not advise what to do in any particular case.
Can our firm or training provider link to this checklist?
Yes. You may link to this page from intranets, training materials, or public websites. Use the citation box on the page for suggested anchor text and HTML. Please describe it accurately as workflow guidance, not legal advice.
Does the checklist replace a firm's own attendance note template?
No. Firms may have their own standards and LAA billing requirements. This checklist is a general completeness aid — adapt it to your firm's procedures and the Standard Crime Contract.
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