Why Your Solicitor May Send a Police Station Agent (And Why That's Completely Normal)

Why Your Solicitor May Send a Police Station Agent (And Why That's Completely Normal)

If you have been told that a "police station agent" — rather than a solicitor directly — will be attending your interview, you may be wondering what this means and whether it affects your legal protection. The short answer is: it does not. Police station agents are a standard and well-established part of the criminal defence system in England and Wales. This article explains exactly who they are, why solicitors use them, and what it means for you as a client.

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What Is a Police Station Agent?

A police station agent (sometimes called a police station representative or accredited representative) is a legal professional instructed by a solicitor's firm to attend a police station interview on the firm's behalf. The agent may be:

• A qualified solicitor who acts independently for other firms on a case-by-case basis, or
• An accredited police station representative — a non-solicitor who has passed the Law Society's Police Station Qualification (PSQ) and is authorised to provide police station advice under Legal Aid.

In either case, the agent acts as your legal representative at the police station. They take instructions from you, obtain disclosure from the police, advise you in private before interview, and attend the interview with you. Their duty is entirely to you.

Why Do Solicitors Use Agents?

Criminal defence solicitors deal with police stations across a wide geographical area, often with multiple custody calls at the same time. There are several entirely practical reasons why a firm may instruct an agent:

1. Geographical coverage

In Kent, police custody can take place at any of the county's custody suites — from Medway and Gravesend to Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Canterbury, Folkestone, and beyond. A solicitor based in one part of Kent may need reliable coverage at a station some distance away. An experienced local agent can attend promptly without the delay of travelling from further afield.

2. Simultaneous demand

A busy duty solicitor may have several clients in custody at the same time. Rather than leave any client waiting for an extended period, the firm will instruct an agent to attend for one of them. This means clients receive timely advice without delay.

3. Out-of-hours and extended hours attendance

Police custody does not keep office hours. Firms routinely use agents to provide cover during evenings, weekends, and bank holidays. Using a trusted, experienced agent means clients receive representation at all times the firm operates — without any single solicitor being stretched across every commitment.

4. Holiday and sickness cover

When a solicitor is unavailable due to annual leave or illness, their clients need to be covered. An agent provides continuity of service so that existing clients are not left without representation.

5. Specialist local knowledge

An agent who regularly attends a particular custody suite will have detailed knowledge of how that suite operates, the local officers, and the practical realities of that interview environment. That experience is genuinely useful.

Is My Legal Protection the Same?

Yes. Whether a qualified solicitor or an accredited representative attends your police station interview, your core legal rights are the same:

• You have the right to free independent legal advice before and during interview.
• The agent owes their duty entirely to you — not to the police.
• Everything you discuss with your representative is confidential (legal professional privilege).
• The agent will obtain disclosure, advise on interview strategy, and support you throughout.

The Legal Aid Agency authorises accredited representatives to carry out police station work under the same scheme that covers solicitors. This is not a lesser standard of service — it is the same protective framework.

What Should I Expect From a Police Station Agent?

A good police station agent will:

1. Contact you (or the custody suite) promptly after being instructed.
2. Obtain pre-interview disclosure from the police — what the allegation is, what evidence they have, and why you are suspected.
3. Advise you in private before the interview starts. This consultation is confidential.
4. Advise you on interview strategy — whether to answer questions, give a prepared statement, or exercise your right to silence.
5. Attend the interview with you and intervene if necessary (for example, if improper questions are asked or procedure is not followed).
6. Advise on bail or release under investigation after interview.
7. Report back to the instructing solicitor with a full attendance note.

The Difference Between a Solicitor, an Accredited Rep, and an Agent

These terms are sometimes confused. Here is a plain English explanation:

• Solicitor: A fully qualified lawyer admitted to the Roll of Solicitors, who can practise criminal law and attend police stations. A duty solicitor is a solicitor on the Legal Aid duty rota.
• Accredited police station representative (accredited rep): A non-solicitor who has passed the Police Station Qualification (PSQ). They can attend police stations under Legal Aid but cannot conduct the wider range of legal work a solicitor can.
• Police station agent: This is not a formal legal category — it describes the role. An agent is someone (solicitor or accredited rep) instructed by another firm to attend on their behalf. Robert Cashman, for example, is a qualified solicitor who acts as an agent for Kent firms — providing solicitor-level representation, not just accredited rep coverage.

For Clients in Kent: What This Means in Practice

If you are detained at a Kent custody suite — whether at Sevenoaks, Swanley, Tonbridge, Maidstone, Medway, Gravesend, Canterbury, Folkestone, Ashford, Sittingbourne, or any other Kent police station — and your solicitor has instructed an agent, you should:

• Not be interviewed until the agent arrives or until you have received telephone advice.
• Ask the custody sergeant to confirm when the agent will attend.
• Decline to answer questions informally or "off the record" before your representative arrives.
• Trust the process — your firm has instructed someone experienced to represent you.

If you are concerned about who will be attending or have not received any contact, you can ask the custody sergeant to contact the instructing firm directly. You should not be left without any communication about your representation.

For Solicitors: Police Station Agent Cover in Kent

If you are a criminal defence solicitor or firm with clients at Kent custody suites and need reliable agent cover, Robert Cashman is available to assist. Robert is a qualified solicitor, accredited duty solicitor, and Higher Court Advocate with over 20 years of police station experience. He provides:

• Daytime and evening attendance at all Kent custody suites, subject to availability.
• Detailed attendance notes and full reporting to the instructing firm.
• Cover for overflow, holidays, and extended demand periods.
• Solicitor-level representation — not just accredited rep coverage.
• Competitive rates for Legal Aid and private work.

To discuss agent cover arrangements for your Kent caseload, contact Robert directly on 01732 247427 or via the contact page.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Further Reading

• Why you need a criminal solicitor in the police station
• Do I need a solicitor for a voluntary police interview?
• What happens in a police interview? Step-by-step guide
• Accredited police station representation
• Agent services for solicitors
• Kent police stations guide