solicitors

[zzxxee]

my partner has to go to the police station and his solicitor says he will not meet him there only if he gets charged with section 18 which is what he was arrested for a few weeks ago i dont understand this?//

[Buenchico]

The police often tell solicitors what they intend doing when someone surrenders to bail. If they intend to interview the person, the solicitor would certainly want to be present. However, in many cases, the police simply re-bail the person to attend again at a later date. (It's quite common for someone to have to surrender to bail several times before anything actually happens).

If the police intend to re-bail your partner, he'll be in and out of the police station within a few minutes. (They'll simply tell him the date upon which he's required to attend again and get him to sign a form). They won't question him, so it's totally pointless for his solicitor to attend.

Section 18 GBH is an exceptionally serious offence. It's akin to 'attempted murder' and carries the same maximum penalty of life imprisonment. You can be certain that your partner's solicitor would only decline to attend at the police station if he's confident that your partner will not be questioned.

However, if the police decide to charge your partner (without questioning him further), it's possible that they could lock him up until he could be brought before a magistrates' court. The magistrates would have to reconsider bail and it's quite likely (because of the severity of the charge) that this would be refused. (i.e. your partner could be remanded into custody for the several months before the matter could come before the Crown court). So, if your partner was charged, his solicitor would probably attend the police station and/or magistrates court, in order to argue the case for bail to be granted.

Chris

[zzxxee]

thankyou