Criminal defence lawyers London
If you have received a Notice of Criminal Charge through the post, don’t ignore it. Contact a solicitor immediately to make sure you do everything you can to get the best outcome.
It’s not unusual for Notices of Criminal Charge to arrive many months after you were first interviewed by the police about an alleged offence.
If you have not previously engaged a solicitor to keep track of the progress of the investigation against you, it can come as something of a shock to discover the case is still active.
Employing an expert criminal lawyer is now more essential than ever. We would not advise trying to represent yourself or relying on the services of the duty solicitor in court, as these offer a very limited and one-time only service.
Talk to us without delay.
What to do if you receive a Notice of Criminal Charge
- Get legal advice as soon as possible. You do not need to use the same duty solicitor you used at the police station. Make sure you employ the best and do not leave it until the day of the court hearing.
- Call our 24-hour emergency line on 0333 577 2999.
- Give us a copy of the Notice or at least the details of the charge, case number and court and arrange a meeting with us as soon as possible.
- Make sure you arrive at court in plenty of time. Plan your route and allow plenty of time for traffic disruption. Have our number on you so you can tell us if you are delayed before you get there.
What is a Notice of Criminal Charge?
A Notice of Criminal Charge is a document of several pages, usually sent in the post. It is also sometimes referred to as a summons or a postal requisition.
The Notice will detail your offence, the unique case number and the date and place of the court hearing you must attend. Often the date of the court hearing is only four weeks from the date of the Notice, meaning it’s important to start preparing your defence straight away.
A Notice of Criminal Charge comes at the end of a police investigation, once police and prosecutors decide that they have enough evidence to charge you with a specific offence. This can be several months after you first became aware of the accusation against you.
It will not tell you about the evidence they have, or why they have decided to prosecute you. In all cases, it is essential to engage an expert criminal lawyer if you have not already.
Having a solicitor like Stryders to track the progress of the police investigation means you are always informed and prepared.
Preparing your defence
It may be tempting to think you can manage your court hearing or defence yourself but in reality it is unlikely to be the best option.The sooner you contact us after receiving your Notice the better as we may be able to get a copy of the prosecution’s case in advance.
Not only will we help you build a robust defence, which could include finding expert witnesses and commissioning reports, we will also help you navigate what is a very formal and intimidating process every step of the way.
Although all but the most serious cases start in a local magistrates’ court, many can ultimately end up in a higher crown court where the sentencing powers are much greater.
Stryders knows the criminal justice system inside out. We can represent you at magistrates’ court and brief a barrister to represent you at crown court if needed.
Having professional representation means you will not forget to mention something in the heat of the moment and will always have someone experienced by your side to take advantage of opportunities you may not otherwise spot to reduce your charge or sentence.
Why choose Stryders
The benefit of nominating Stryders is that you know you’re getting access to firm with exceptional expertise and experience for whatever the type and seriousness of offence you are suspected of.
Several of our solicitors have particular expertise in supporting young and vulnerable people caught up in the criminal justice system.Stryders Law is a member of the Youth Justice Legal Centre.