Providing the police with your chosen out-of-hours number

When your client asks the police to contact you it’s important that they try to do so on a phone number that best suits your working arrangements.

The implementation of Part 1 of the Criminal Justice Act means the police can contact solicitors directly when your clients request advice. Duty cases are referred to the Solicitor Contact Line, along with cases where the named solicitor cannot provide advice.

The police have access to the court duty plans and the Criminal Legal Assistance Register, but the phone numbers on these are office numbers. If you have other contact phone numbers you’d prefer they use for out of hours, please ensure that these are passed to your local police station.