Failing to Stop For Police

Why choose our driving offence solicitors?

For more than 45 years, our expert driving offence solicitors have been delivering specialist legal support across a wide range of cases, including those involving failure to stop for police.

Failing to stop for police is a serious offence, with penalties including an unlimited fine. The court cannot give you penalty points, but this offence could affect your insurance premium. This makes it crucial to obtain tailored legal advice as early as possible.

Our team includes dedicated police station representatives available 24/7 to assist if you are arrested on suspicion of a driving offence. We have many years of experience examining prosecution evidence and in developing a strong defence to protect your interests.

With connections to some of the UK’s top criminal defence barristers, we will ensure exceptional legal representation if your case proceeds to trial.

Our expertise in handling criminal and driving-related cases is reflected by our Law Society accreditation for Criminal Litigation and our Lexcel accreditation, showing our commitment to excellence in legal practice.

Our expertise with failure to stop for police charges

Representation at police stations

Anything you say or do during questioning at the police station can have a significant impact on your case and may be used as evidence in court. 

This is why it is important to have specialist solicitors on hand to support you at the station and advise you on your rights. 

Our experienced team of police station representatives and solicitors have a track record of successfully supporting clients at this important stage. 

We offer quick and effective legal advice and representation to safeguard your interests and ensure you are fully informed throughout the proceedings.

Pre-charge bail and released under investigation

Whether you have been released on pre-charge bail or remain under investigation, expert legal advice is crucial for understanding your situation and how your case is likely to progress.

Being released from police custody does not remove the possibility of being charged at a later stage, making it crucial to be prepared. 

Pre-charge bail often comes with conditions, such as restrictions on your movements or mandatory visits to the police station at specified times.

Our driving offence solicitors will review your case in detail and provide tailored advice and guidance to help you manage your bail conditions. We will be on hand to navigate police investigations and ensure you are in the strongest possible position.

To find out more in relation to pre-charge bail and being released under investigation, please use the links provided below:

• Pre-charge bail and Released Under Investigation (RUI)
• On Bail But Not Charged - What Does It Mean?
• How long can you be on bail without charge UK?

Having charges dropped

If you are facing charges, it may be possible to get them dismissed entirely before your case reaches court. Having a skilled team of expert criminal defence solicitors on your side will give you the best possible chance of this occurring, however.

Our driving offence solicitors will review the details of your case and establish if there are any weaknesses; from there, we will build a strong defence on your behalf to improve your legal position and the final outcome.

Legal representation and defence

Facing court proceedings for failing to stop for the police is likely to be a worrying and stressful time. 

Our solicitors are available to provide compassionate and practical support throughout. We will address your concerns, guide you through the process, and build the strongest defence for your case.

Whether your charges are heard in a Magistrates’ Court or the Crown Court, our team is dedicated to delivering exceptional representation at every stage. 

We will thoroughly prepare your defence, including obtaining expert reports when necessary, drawing on years of experience in achieving positive outcomes for our clients.

Our established relationships with some of the UK’s most respected criminal defence barristers ensure that, should your case proceed to trial, you’ll receive high-quality legal advice and advocacy. 

We will keep you fully informed about your case and provide honest advice on whether an early guilty plea might be in your best interests to reduce the penalty you receive.

Fees and funding

We are committed to being transparent and straightforward about your options regarding fees and funding.

Legal Aid may be available in certain situations, depending on the severity of the case and whether you qualify for public funding.

For more information on how we manage fees, including Legal Aid and private fees, please refer to the links below:

• Motoring Offences Fees
• Do I Qualify for Criminal Legal Aid?
• Bespoke Crime Private Fee Service
• Will Your Private Legal Costs Increase?
• Do We Offer Free Consultations?

Related offences

We also provide support and guidance on various other matters that are related to failure to stop for police, including:

• Dangerous driving
• Death by careless driving
• Death by dangerous driving
• Drink driving
• Driving whilst disqualified
• Driving without due care and attention
• Driving without insurance
• Drug driving
• Failing to stop after an accident

Common questions about failure to stop

What happens if you fail to stop for police in the UK?

According to the sentencing guidelines, the maximum penalty for failing to stop for the police in the UK is an unlimited fine. The court cannot impose penalty points for this offence, but the charge may still impact your insurance premiums.

It’s important to note that if you fail to stop for the police, this may also coincide with more serious charges, such as dangerous driving, driving without due care and attention, or speeding.

What constitutes a "failure to stop" offence?

This offence occurs when:

(1) A person driving a motor vehicle on a road must stop the vehicle on being required to do so by a constable in uniform.

(2) A person riding a cycle on a road must stop the cycle on being required to do so by a constable in uniform.

(3) If a person fails to comply with this section he is guilty of an offence.

Should I have legal representation at the police interview?

Yes, we would always advise you to receive legal advice from a solicitor before a police interview, and the interview should be carried out in the presence of your solicitor.

We can advise you on the best ways to respond to police questions, whether by stating no comment, providing a prepared statement, or answering the questions directly.

Anything you say or do during the interview can impact your case, which makes expert legal guidance invaluable.

Should I stop for an unmarked police car?

Yes, you should stop for an unmarked police car. If one or more of the officers are wearing police uniforms, it is against the law not to stop.

However, if you feel vulnerable and are unsure if the unmarked police car is the police, you can drive to the nearest public place (such as a service station or police station) and then stop.

If the police take action for you failing to stop, a court would ultimately decide whether you had committed an offence.

What happens if I was not driving the vehicle at the time of the offence?

If you own the vehicle involved but were not driving it, the police may contact you to clarify who was driving at the time of the offence.

Under UK law, the owner of a vehicle is required to provide information about the identity of the driver when asked by the police.

Failing to provide such information can result in a fine or more severe penalties.

Contact our driving offence solicitors now

If you are due to attend the police station for interview, have been accused of failure to stop for police, 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 driving offence solicitors in London, Birmingham, and Manchester by telephone on:

• Brent & Camden London Office: 020 7624 7771
• Manchester Office: 0161 835 1638
• Birmingham Office:  0121 614 3333
• City of London: 0207 624 7771, our senior Solicitors and Partners can meet by appointment in the City.

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 failure to stop for police

Please contact us for a free initial consultation with one of our driving offence lawyers for immediate advice and 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.