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What to do if…
police ask for an interview or your side of the story and you are unsure whether you are a witness or suspect

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Pause before giving a detailed account and ask the police to clarify whether you are being treated as a witness, victim, or suspect, what kind of interview they want, and whether you are free to leave. If you are suspected of an offence or the interview will be under caution, ask for free independent legal advice before answering substantive questions.

Do not do these things

  • Do not assume that a friendly, informal, telephone, or doorstep conversation is off the record.
  • Do not lie, guess, fill gaps in your memory, or agree with wording you do not understand.
  • Do not delete, alter, hide, or dispose of potentially relevant messages, documents, recordings, devices, or other material.
  • Do not contact other people to compare or align accounts.
  • Do not post about the incident or police contact on social media.
  • Do not sign or approve a witness statement that you have not checked carefully.
  • Do not ignore an interview invitation or miss an agreed appointment without contacting the police or a solicitor.
  • Do not assume that asking for a solicitor makes you appear guilty.

What to do now

  1. Say calmly: “Before we discuss what happened, please tell me whether I am being treated as a witness, a victim, or a suspect, whether this will be an interview under caution, and whether I am free to leave.”

  2. Ask for the officer’s name, police force, station or unit, incident or reference number, and the proposed time and place. If the contact was unexpected, verify it through contact details published by the relevant police force before sharing detailed personal information remotely.

  3. If you are arrested, told you are suspected of an offence, or told the interview will be under caution, say that you want free independent legal advice and a solicitor present before substantive questioning. Ask for the duty or on-call solicitor if you do not have your own solicitor.

  4. If attendance is described as voluntary, ask what that means in your circumstances and whether you can agree a suitable time after speaking to a solicitor. Do not simply ignore the invitation.

  5. If the police say you are a witness, ask what kind of account they want and whether it will be written, audio recorded, or video recorded. State only what you personally saw, heard, did, or remember, and clearly separate that from assumptions or information received from someone else.

  6. Say “I do not remember” or “I am not sure” when that is accurate. Ask for a break if you are tired, distressed, unwell, confused, or struggling to concentrate.

  7. Before signing or approving a witness statement, read the whole statement or ask for it to be read to you. Identify anything missing, misleading, or incorrect and ask for it to be changed before you approve it.

  8. If the questions begin to focus on something you may have done, pause substantive answers and ask whether your status has changed. Ask for legal advice before continuing.

  9. Tell the police before the interview if you need an interpreter, communication assistance, medical help, or support because of your age or vulnerability. Ask what arrangements will be made.

  10. Keep the police letter, message, email, or voicemail. Make a brief factual note of the date, time, officer’s details, what was requested, how your status was described, and anything you agreed to do.

What can wait

You usually do not need to give a complete account during the first unexpected call or doorstep contact. You do not need to decide now whether to complain, make a public statement, contact the media, predict the investigation’s outcome, or plan for every possible later stage.

Important reassurance

Being asked for your side of the story does not by itself establish whether you are a witness or a suspect. It is reasonable to ask for clear information and independent legal advice, and speaking to a solicitor does not mean that you have done anything wrong.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate first steps only. Police procedures and legal rules differ across England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, so later decisions may require advice from a solicitor familiar with the relevant legal system.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. Your obligations and options depend on your location, status, the type of interview, any specific police power being used, and the circumstances of the investigation.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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