What to do if…
you are told the police have been trying to reach you but you have received nothing

What to do now

1. Write down exactly what you have been told. Include who told you, when they told you, what police supposedly tried to do, any name, collar number, station, department, reference number, phone number, email address, and the address they say was used.
2. Verify the contact using an official route, not the number or link you were given. For a non-emergency, call 101 or use the official police contact route online. If you are in immediate danger or a crime is happening now, call 999.
3. Ask only narrow verification questions at first: “Is there a real attempt to contact me?”, “Which force, station, or department is dealing with it?”, “What reference should I use?”, and “Am I being contacted as a witness, victim, or suspect?”
4. If they want you to attend an interview, ask what the interview is about before answering any questions. You can say: “I am willing to arrange a time, but I want legal advice before I answer questions.”
5. Ask for legal advice before any interview under caution or voluntary interview. Legal advice for police questioning is generally available free of charge, but the exact arrangements can vary across the UK. Ask the police interviewer how to speak to a solicitor or duty solicitor before the interview starts.
6. If they say letters were sent, ask what address was used and what type of document was sent. Ask whether it was only a contact letter, or whether it was court paperwork such as a postal requisition, summons, or, in England and Wales, a Single Justice Procedure Notice.
7. If it is court paperwork, treat it as urgent. A Single Justice Procedure Notice in England and Wales usually needs a response within 21 days from the date shown on the notice, and a magistrate can make a decision without your response if you miss it. Use the instructions on the genuine notice and consider getting legal advice before responding.
8. If anything feels like a scam, end the contact and verify separately. If you have shared money, bank details, card details, passwords, or one-time codes, contact your bank immediately. If you are in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, report fraud through Report Fraud; if you are in Scotland, contact Police Scotland through 101 or its official reporting route.