What Happens in a Police Interview? A Step-by-Step Guide

What Happens in a Police Interview? A Step-by-Step Guide

The prospect of a police interview is daunting for most people — whether under arrest or attending voluntarily. Much of the fear comes from the unknown: not knowing what to expect, how formal it will be, what questions will be asked, or what your options are. This guide walks you through a police interview step by step, from the moment you arrive at the custody suite to what happens after the interview ends.

Understanding the process means you can face it calmly, take the right advice, and avoid avoidable mistakes.

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Step 1 — Arrival and Booking In

If you have been arrested, you will be taken by police to the nearest custody suite. In Kent, this may be at Medway (Gillingham), Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Gravesend, Canterbury, Folkestone, Sittingbourne, Margate, or another Kent custody suite.

If you are attending voluntarily, you arrive at the police station at the agreed time.

On arrival, the custody sergeant — an independent officer who runs the custody suite — will:

• Record your personal details.
• Explain why you have been brought in (for those under arrest).
• Formally authorise your detention (for those under arrest) or confirm your voluntary attendance.
• Explain your rights — including your right to free legal advice, the right to have someone informed of your detention, and the right to read the PACE Codes of Practice.
• Ask if you want a solicitor.

Step 2 — Legal Advice: Your Private Consultation

Before the interview begins, you are entitled to speak to a solicitor in private. This consultation is completely confidential — the police cannot hear it, and nothing you say to your solicitor can be shared with them without your consent.

During this consultation, your solicitor will:

1. Ask about your circumstances — what you know about the allegation, your account of events, and any background relevant to your situation.
2. Obtain pre-interview disclosure from the police — asking them what the allegation is, what evidence they have, and why you are suspected. This is your solicitor's right under PACE Code C.
3. Advise you on interview strategy — whether to answer questions fully, give a prepared statement, or exercise your right to silence (no comment). The right advice depends on the disclosure, the evidence, and your individual situation.
4. Explain the caution and what adverse inference means.
5. Prepare you for the format of the interview and what to expect.

This consultation may be brief — perhaps 20 to 30 minutes — or longer if the case is complex. Do not rush it. It is the most important part of the process.

Step 3 — The Interview Room

Police interviews are conducted in a dedicated interview room. In most custody suites, this is a small, plain room with a table, chairs, and audio recording equipment. Some suites also use video recording.

Present in the room will typically be:

• One or two police officers conducting the interview.
• You.
• Your solicitor or legal representative (seated next to or near you).
• If you are under 18 or considered vulnerable: an appropriate adult (a parent, guardian, or social worker).

You will be given a seat. The officers will set up the recording equipment. The atmosphere may feel formal — because it is. This is a formal process, not an informal chat.

Step 4 — The Caution

Before questioning begins, the interviewing officer will read you the caution:

"You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence."

This is not a formality to rush past. Listen carefully. It tells you three things:

1. You have the right to remain silent. You do not have to answer any question.
2. Adverse inference risk. If you later rely on a fact in your defence that you could have mentioned at interview, the court may draw an inference from the fact you did not mention it earlier.
3. Everything is evidence. Whatever you say — or do not say — can and will be used if there are proceedings.

Step 5 — Introductions and Preliminaries

The interviewing officer will formally open the interview by:

• Stating the date, time, and location for the record.
• Introducing themselves and any other officer present.
• Asking you to confirm your name and date of birth.
• Confirming that your solicitor is present (by name).
• Confirming that you have been given the caution and understand it.

Step 6 — The Interview: Questioning

Police interviews typically follow a recognised structure. Officers are trained in structured interviewing techniques, often under a method called PEACE (Preparation and planning, Engage and explain, Account, Closure, Evaluation).

The interview will normally move through phases:

Opening

The officer will explain the purpose of the interview — what the investigation is about and what they are going to ask you about. This is important: listen carefully to how the allegation is framed.

Free account

You may be asked to give your account of events in your own words, without interruption. This is designed to let you speak openly before the officer explores specific points.

Probing and clarifying

The officer will then ask questions about specific aspects of your account, the alleged offence, and any inconsistencies or gaps they want to explore. Questions may be open ("Tell me what happened next"), closed ("Were you there at that time?"), or probing ("Why did you do that?").

Challenge and confrontation

In some interviews, particularly where evidence exists, the officer may put specific evidence to you and ask for your response. This is normal. Your solicitor can advise whether you should respond to specific challenges.

Step 7 — Your Options: How to Respond

During the interview, you have three main options — and your solicitor will have advised you which is appropriate:

Option 1: Answer questions

If your solicitor advises that answering questions is in your interest, you should give short, accurate, and honest answers. Do not guess, speculate, or over-explain. Keep to what you know.

Option 2: Prepared statement then no comment

Your solicitor may prepare a short written statement setting out your account of events. You read this at the start of the interview, placing your position on record — then answer "no comment" to all subsequent questions. This can be useful where you need to put key facts on record without risking being questioned in detail.

Option 3: No comment interview

You exercise your right to remain silent throughout. You answer every question with "no comment" (or words to that effect). This is sometimes the right advice — particularly when disclosure is poor or the allegation is unclear. It is not always the right advice — and the decision should never be made without speaking to a solicitor.

Your solicitor's role during the interview

Your solicitor does not answer questions for you. Their role during questioning is to:

• Intervene if a question is improper, unclear, or legally problematic,
• Object to oppressive or repetitive questioning,
• Request breaks if needed to advise you further,
• Ensure the interview follows proper procedure.

Step 8 — The End of the Interview

When the officers are satisfied they have covered the relevant topics, the lead officer will formally close the interview by:

• Noting the time the interview concluded.
• Checking whether you have anything to add.
• Stopping the recording.

You may be taken back to the custody area or — if attending voluntarily — may be free to leave at this point (depending on whether you are then arrested).

Step 9 — After the Interview: What Happens Next

Once the interview is over, the police will consider what to do. The possible outcomes are:

• Release without charge: No further action at this stage. This does not necessarily mean the investigation is over.
• Release on police bail: You are released but required to return to the police station at a future date (pending further investigation). Bail conditions may be attached.
• Release under investigation (RUI): Released without conditions, but the investigation continues. There is no fixed return date.
• Charge: Formally charged with an offence and required to attend court.
• No further action: The investigation is closed and no further steps will be taken.

Whatever the outcome, your solicitor will explain what it means and advise on any next steps.

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Myths vs Reality: Common Misconceptions About Police Interviews

Myth	Reality
"It's just a chat — not formal."	It is a recorded, formal legal process. Everything is evidence.
"If I explain everything, they'll drop it."	Charge decisions are based on evidence and public interest, not cooperation alone.
"Asking for a solicitor looks guilty."	It is a fundamental legal right. Police see represented clients every day.
"No comment always protects you."	Not always. It can lead to an adverse inference if you later rely on something you could have said.
"I can talk to the officer informally beforehand."	Anything you say at any point in the police station can be used as evidence. Stay silent on the allegation until you have advice.
"A voluntary interview is less serious."	It carries the same caution and the same legal weight as an interview after arrest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Further Reading

• Do I need a solicitor for a voluntary police interview?
• No comment interviews — when it helps and when it harms
• Your rights in a police interview
• PACE Code C explained
• How long can the police keep you at the station?
• Your rights in custody
• Contact us