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Crime

Accused of a Crime

Being accused of any type of crime can be a very difficult experience and leave you questioning the options that may be available to you.

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If you believe your case is likely to have serious consequences for you now, or in the future and you have the means to pay for this service

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Do we offer free consultations? 

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No matter what offence you have been accused of committing or what your circumstances involve, having the support of a team of specialist criminal defence solicitors from the outset can make a significant difference in the way a case is likely to unfold.

At JD Spicer Zeb, our expert criminal defence solicitors have over 45 years of experience supporting individuals accused of various crimes. We are well-placed to offer bespoke advice at all stages of an investigation, from an initial interview under caution through to any potential court proceedings, building the strongest possible defence against the allegations you are facing.

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Why choose JD Spicer Zeb?

  • 1000s Cases Dropped
  • 24/7 Emergency Phonelines
  • 100s Years Combined Experience
  • Google Reviews Read all Reviews

Recent Cases

There is limited recourse for you if you are falsely accused. Click a selection of the cases we have covered. The best thing you can do is to instruct an excellent solicitor from the outset.

Read more cases

The types of crimes you can be accused of that we can support you with include:

  • Offences Against the Person (common assault, battery, ABH, GBH and more)
  • Murder/Manslaughter
  • Drugs Offences
  • Sexual Offences
  • Offences against children
  • Theft Offences (including shoplifting, burglary, robbery and theft from your employer)
  • Serious Fraud
  • Benefit Fraud
  • Money Laundering Offences
  • Public Order Offences
  • Communications Offences
  • Weapons Offences
  • Road Traffic Offences
  • Criminal Damage
  • Arson
  • Interfering/perverting the course of justice
  • Animal offences (including dangerous dogs)
  • Terrorism
  • White Collar Crime
  • Conspiracies
  • Cyber Crime
  • Youth Crime
  • Human Trafficking
  • Serious Crime
  • Extradition
  • Breach of Court Orders

If you are accused of a crime, we will do our utmost to help you avoid a conviction. If this is not possible, we will always be clear about your options and take every possible measure to secure proportionate penalties. Depending on the crime you are accused of, this might include taking actions before you are charged, such as securing a police caution or community resolution order

Our highly experienced solicitors provide:

  • 24/7 legal support in person and over the phone, 365 days a year
  • Representation anywhere in England and Wales
  • Accredited Police Station Representatives to support you during a police interview

Clear, effective legal advice in any language (see our languages spoken)

How can we help?

Common questions

We always work with the most experienced and best leading UK barristers, KCs (Kings Counsel). We cover all criminal cases 24/7 at the police station and court. Offices in London, Birmingham, and Manchester cover cases across England and Wales. We can offer Legal Aid and affordable Private fee agreements. We can see you the same day, including virtually. Our Senior Partners supervise all of our cases.

How quickly do you respond?

We respond quickly even during out of hours. We do not get our work by paying for online adverts but based on the fact that few criminal law firms can match our 45 years of experience. Most of our cases are still from word-of-mouth recommendations from satisfied clients. We are called daily by dissatisfied clients from firms with less experience than us. We respond very quickly to new enquiries. We know what clients seek and so we update clients rapidly.

Can you get cases dropped?

Yes, read about the recent cases we've helped our clients with here.

We always keep you updated and give straightforward advice. We will get cases dropped early where the case is weak or should not be prosecuted. We will be upfront with you about where you can benefit from a good result with an early guilty plea, such as a discount on your sentence. As we work on cases across all levels with clients from all walks of life, we are excellent at giving clear, spot-on advice. As an established firm, we can allocate a whole team to your case often at short notice to secure evidence to minimise the damage to you. 

Have you won any awards?

OUR PROFESSIONAL BODY THE LAW SOCIETY AWARDED US IN OCTOBER 2020 WITH THE EXCELLENCE IN CLIENT SERVICE AWARD AND STATED - 

"JD Spicer Zeb demonstrated a clear commitment to client service through their work with vulnerable and diverse individuals in what can be severely traumatic circumstances".

Do you offer free consultations?

Where it is possible, we aim to provide an initial consultation to you. If we can speak to you, we can if required inform you about  –

  • Whether we can take the case on and our relevant experience.
  • Public and private funding benefits.
  • Assistance in applying for legal aid where we are likely to accept instructions.
  • An outline of options in police interview only. We will not advise you on which option to adopt.
  • Providing our free written guide explaining the police station process.
  • The gravity of routine and day-to-day offences you face.
  • Consequences of not attending the court or police station.
  • Consequences of interfering with any witnesses.
  • Retaining any evidence in support of your case.
  • If possible an outline of the elements of the offence that the police or CPS must prove.
  • This consultation will normally be by telephone or email and will only be for as long as we deem necessary to establish if we can act for you. If we cannot usefully give you any advice in this manner then we will not continue with the consultation. We will not discuss the case in depth for you to be able to decide on your plea or any significant aspect of the case, as this cannot be undertaken informally.
  • Referring you, if possible, to other firms for matters out of our specialism or if we cannot help.

Consultations do not apply to the following cases –

  • If we do not intend to take the case on.
  • Road Traffic cases, drink driving, drug driving, driving bans, speeding, no insurance, mobile phone use, points etc.
  • In all cases where we do not have the capacity to take your case or the availability of suitably qualified staff to provide an initial free consultation. This is applicable in all cases but especially where a more senior lawyer is required because of your personal needs or the complexity of the case.
  • Harassment/stalking/ coercive behaviour/malicious communications or road traffic cases and most sensitive cases. These cases are often too complicated to assess in short consultations.
  • The locations concerned may be too distant to represent you adequately or it may not be cost-effective for you or us.
  • The case is too complicated to assess or raises various charges or facts, complexity, or history to be considered informally or in a short consultation.
  • In most Legal aid transfers where legal aid is granted to another firm except in very grave cases, we may assess the case and merits for a transfer.
  • If your relationship has broken down with your existing solicitor or several solicitors.
  • If you have been released under investigation and have already had a police station attendance. 
  • If you hold legal aid with another firm and seek a second opinion.
  • If you are calling on behalf of the client as a friend or family member unless you have full authority and full facts.
  • To businesses.
  • Advising whether you were given good advice by your other solicitor.
  • Whether to decide to plead guilty or not guilty.
  • Whether you have an arguable defence in law or factually complicated defences.
  • Any advice you have had after your first court appearance.
  • Any advice on appeal on conviction or sentence.
  • If we feel we are unable to communicate with you.
  • If we are likely to be conflicted or breach our professional rules.

What happens if you're accused of a crime?

What will happen if you are accused of a crime largely depends on the exact nature of the allegations you are facing. If the police suspect you of committing a crime, they will usually invite you for a voluntary interview, also known as an interview under caution.

You should be mindful that, while it is described as a ‘voluntary’ interview, it is extremely important you attend and have legal representation by your side. Anything you do or do not say or agree to while being questioned at a police station can have serious consequences and play a decisive role in the outcome of your case.

Following a voluntary interview, the police could decide to arrest you, release you on pre-charge bail, put you under investigation, or drop the case altogether.

Can you be fired for being accused of a crime in the UK?

Your employer cannot automatically dismiss you if you have been accused of an offence. To take any sort of disciplinary action, there must be a genuine connection between the offence and the nature of your employment. Please note that we do not specialise in employment law and cannot provide advice in this area.

What if you're falsely accused?

If you are falsely accused of a crime, it is still vital that you receive expert legal guidance to ensure that you achieve the best possible outcome for your case and limit any potential damage to your reputation.

 

Pre-charge bail

After being interviewed by the police in relation to an offence you are accused of, you may be released on pre-charge bail. This is more commonly referred to as simply being released on bail.

While you are on pre-charge bail, you will be subject to several bail conditions. Common conditions include restrictions on movement or being required to visit the police station at designated times.

To find out more in relation to pre-charge bail, please use the links provided below:

Fees and funding

We are committed to providing clear information regarding out legal fees.

If your case proceedings to court, Legal Aid may be available, but whether this is the case will depend on the seriousness of the case and whether it justifies the grant of public funding.

To find out more about the way we handle fees (both Legal Aid and private fees), please use the links provided below:

Contact our criminal defence solicitors now

If you have been accused of a criminal offence, are due to attend the police station for interview, or require any urgent specialist advice or immediate representation, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

You can contact a member of our dedicated team of criminal defence solicitors in London, Birmingham, and Manchester by telephone on:

Or email: solicitors@jdspicer.co.uk

Alternatively, you can fill out our quick online enquiry form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

24/7 legal representation

For urgent representation and advice, you can contact our Emergency Number: 07836 577 556 and we will provide you with the assistance you need.

How can we help?

  • Umar Zeb
      • Umar Zeb
      • Senior Partner - Head of Private Client Crime
      • 020 7624 7771
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  • Lisa Nicol
      • Lisa Nicol
      • Managing Partner - Head of Crime & Serious Cases
      • 020 7624 771
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  • James O'Donnell
      • 020 762 47771
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  • Sanjay Cholera
      • 020 7624 7771
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  • Peter Mulhearn
      • 0207 624 7771
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  • Danny Parkash
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  • Mimma Sabato
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  • Richard Souper
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  • Jonathan Lynn
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  • Samuel Oduntan
      • 0207 624 7771
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  • Barry Linnane
      • 0207 624 7771
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  • Stuart Lloyd
      • 020 7624 7771
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  • Robert Wong
      • 020 7624 7771
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  • Maeve Carroll
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  • Rebecca Forbes
      • 0161 835 1638
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  • Sachelle Gilbert
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