Guidance Hub
Police Investigations
The most important decisions are made before you ever respond to the police.
A police investigation rarely announces itself clearly. A phone call, a letter, an unexpected knock, and suddenly your reputation, your career and your liberty are all in question at once.
The instinct is to explain, to cooperate, to make it go away. But the first move is almost always the most consequential one, and it is made long before anyone enters a courtroom. This is where strategy matters most.
Craig MacKenzie advises professionals, business owners and public figures at the earliest stage of an investigation, when calm, decisive thinking changes the outcome.
If this sounds like your situation
- The police have contacted me and I don't know why
- I want to cooperate but I'm afraid of saying the wrong thing
- I don't know whether I am a witness or a suspect
- I'm worried this will become public
- I don't know what happens next
Speak to Craig at Forbes Solicitors before you respond to the police.
Make an Initial Enquiry →Personal professional website. Legal services are provided exclusively through Forbes Solicitors.
Where to start
Defending Criminal Investigations: The Ultimate Guide
The definitive fifteen-chapter publication: strategic defence from first allegation to final outcome.
The police have contacted me
What to do in the first hours after the police make contact.
Police Investigations: how Craig defends them
The strategic approach to being investigated by the police.
My phone has been seized
What seizure of your devices really means for the investigation.
Latest guidance
Frequently asked questions
Should I speak to the police to clear things up?
Not before you understand your position. Speaking without advice, even to help, can shape an investigation in ways that are difficult to undo. Take advice first, then decide.
Does instructing a solicitor make me look guilty?
No. Seeking advice is what any sensible person does when the stakes are high. It signals that you are taking the situation seriously, not that you have something to hide.
How early should I get advice?
As early as possible. The earliest decisions in an investigation are usually the most important, and they are far harder to correct after the fact.
Related guidance
The wider picture
What else could this affect?
An investigation rarely stays in one place. These are the areas that, depending on the facts, may also need to be considered.
Your liberty
A criminal investigation can carry the risk of arrest, bail conditions or, ultimately, prosecution; the position should be assessed early.
Your record
The outcome of an investigation may affect whether a criminal record arises, which can have consequences that reach well beyond the case itself.
Your reputation
An allegation, even one that is never charged, can create reputational exposure that benefits from a considered, strategic approach.
Your employer
An employer may become aware of, or need to consider, the allegation; the timing and approach can matter a great deal.
Your regulator or professional body
A regulator or governing body may take an interest in the same facts, and whether or when to engage should be considered with advice.
Your devices and data
Digital devices and data are often central to investigations; how they are handled should be approached carefully and lawfully.
Before you act
The decision you may be facing next
People in your position often face one of these decisions before anything else. Each one is best made with advice, not under pressure.
Should I agree to attend an interview?
Should I answer questions in interview?
Should I seek pre-charge representation now?
If the police have contacted you, do not return the call alone. Contact Craig at Forbes Solicitors to make an initial enquiry.
Personal professional website. Legal services are provided exclusively through Forbes Solicitors.
Do You Require Advice About Your Circumstances?
This material provides general information and is not a substitute for advice about a specific investigation or case.
Craig provides legal services exclusively through Forbes Solicitors. To make an initial enquiry, contact Craig at:
craig.mackenzie@forbessolicitors.co.uk
An enquiry does not constitute an instruction. Forbes Solicitors must confirm in writing that it has accepted the matter before any solicitor–client relationship arises.