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Crime

Charged with a Crime

If you have been charged with a crime, it is vital that you understand your rights and what your next steps should be.

Regardless of your circumstances, expert legal representation is essential to securing the best possible outcome.

Bespoke Private Fee Service

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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At JD Spicer Zeb, we have a team of specialist criminal defence solicitors with comprehensive expertise in handling the full range of crimes you could potentially be charged with. With over 45 years of experience, we have substantial experience in both minor and serious cases, offering guidance at all stages of a criminal investigation.

From representation at the police station through to appearing at court, we will work with you to build the strongest possible defence against the charges you are facing.

The types of crimes you may be charged with 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

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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

If you are charged with a crime, our focus will be to ensure you avoid a conviction. If this is not possible, we will always be clear about your options and will take every possible measure to ensure that any penalties handed out are proportionate. Depending on the crime you are charged with, this might include taking actions 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)

What does it mean to be charged with a crime?

If you are charged, it means that a decision has been made to prosecute you for a crime.

There is often some confusion between being charged and being convicted. Being charged does not mean that you are considered to be guilty of committing a crime, only that you will be required to attend court for your case to be heard.

What happens when you are charged with a crime in the UK?

When you are charged with a crime, you will be issued with a charge sheet. A police charge sheet sets out the details of the crime you are being charged with.

Depending on your circumstances, and the crime you are being charged with, you could receive notice of a charge in a number of ways.

What is the police charge procedure in the UK?

If you have been previously released under investigation or attended an interview under caution, you will likely receive notice of a charge via a postal requisition.

If you are in police custody when being charged, the police will decide whether to retain you until you are taken to court for a hearing, or if they will release you on bail until the court hearing.

After being charged, it is essential that you pay close attention to the information regarding the court you will be attending and the time and date a hearing will take place. Failing to attend court in relation to a criminal charge could lead to a warrant being issued for your arrest.

Does charged mean guilty?

Being charged is not the same as being found guilty of a crime. You can only be found guilty and convicted after a court hearing.

Do I have to tell my employer if I am charged with a crime in the UK?

If your employment contract states that you need to disclose any criminal charges received during your employment, failing to do so could amount to a breach of contract and result in your dismissal.

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.

Pre-charge bail

After the police have interviewed you but are yet to make a charging decision, you may be released on pre-charge bail, which 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 might include restrictions on your movement or being required to visit the police station at designated times.

You could still be charged at a later date after the pre-charge bail period comes to an end.

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 our legal fees.

If you have been charged to attend 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 charged with a criminal offence, are due to attend the police station for interview which could lead to a charge, 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?