Reeds Solicitors are one of the leading criminal defence firms serving Luton and Bedfordshire. Our Crime team is ranked Band 1 by Chambers UK and Tier 1 by the Legal 500, the highest rankings awarded by either legal directory.
Our office is on Stuart Street, the same street as Luton and South Bedfordshire Magistrates’ Court and a short walk from Luton Crown Court on George Street. We represent clients across Luton and the wider Bedfordshire area in all types of criminal cases, from motoring offences and first appearances through to the most serious sexual and violent offences.
We advise from the earliest stage of an investigation, including voluntary interviews with Bedfordshire Police, and throughout the pre-charge process and any court proceedings that follow. Our Luton team combines local representation with the experience and resources of a nationally recognised criminal defence firm.
Our Luton team covers the full range of criminal offences, including:
- Driving offences (including drink driving, dangerous driving, careless driving and Exceptional Hardship Applications)
- Violent offences (including assault, ABH, GBH, strangulation, and domestic offences)
- Harassment, stalking and malicious communications
- Sexual offences (including rape, sexual assault, possession of indecent images)
- Controlling or Coercive Behaviour
- Fare evasion and SJP court summons
- Drugs offences (including PWITS Class A and B, conspiracy to supply, production and cultivation of cannabis, and possession offences)
- Breach of Restraining Orders and Non-Molestation Orders
- Firearms and weapon offences (bladed article, offensive weapon)
- Fraud and dishonesty offences (including theft, handling stolen goods and identity fraud)
- Public order offences (s.4, s.4A, s.5 Public Order Act)
- Burglary and property offences (including criminal damage and arson)
Luton and South Bedfordshire Magistrates’ Court
Stuart Street
Luton
LU1 5BL
Our criminal defence team attends Luton and South Bedfordshire Magistrates’ Court regularly and has well-established professional relationships with the court. Criminal cases arising within Luton and South Bedfordshire are listed here, and we act for clients from across the area, including Luton, Dunstable, Houghton Regis, Leighton Buzzard, Flitwick, Ampthill, Biggleswade and the surrounding towns and villages throughout Bedfordshire.
Our Luton Office
Suite 6, First Floor
AW House
6-8 Stuart Street
Luton
LU1 2SJ
Tel: 01582 211040
Our office is on Stuart Street, the same road as the Magistrates’ Court, making it straightforward for clients to meet their solicitor before a hearing. We can offer appointments either in person or virtually, depending on your preference.
Criminal Defence in Bedfordshire - From Police Investigation to Court
We specialise in proactively defending people under investigation by Bedfordshire Police, with an excellent track record of cases being dropped before charge. We regularly represent clients at Luton Police Station, as well as those under investigation at Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, and across the wider Bedfordshire and Luton area. At an early stage, we rapidly gather defence evidence, analyse the prosecution case, and identify evidential weaknesses. This allows us to submit detailed, focused representations to the investigating officer before any decision is made to charge.
Our fixed fee packages, tailored to investigations handled by Bedfordshire Police, include:
- Representation in any re-interview at Luton Police Station or any other Bedfordshire Police station
- Review of your initial police interview and advice on any further action needed
- Assessment of potential defence evidence
- Preparation of written representations to the police – for example, to challenge weak evidence gathered during a Bedfordshire Police investigation, or to seek an out-of-court outcome such as a caution, supported by mitigating factors such as mental health difficulties, OCD, or neurodiversity
- Direct communication with the investigating officer at Bedfordshire Police, including updates on bail extensions
- Applications to vary or remove bail conditions imposed by Bedfordshire Police, where necessary
If your case does proceed, we’re also on hand to represent you locally at Luton Magistrates’ Court or Luton Crown Court.
If Bedfordshire Police have contacted you to request a voluntary interview, we can provide representation at any police station in the county. We regularly attend interviews at:
- Luton Police Station, Buxton Road
- Dunstable Police Station
- Kempston Police Headquarters (Bedford)
- Leighton Buzzard Police Station
Our lawyers represent clients regularly at Luton and South Bedfordshire Magistrates’ Court, and we have specialists experienced in the full range of criminal offences. Early instruction allows us to obtain the court papers well in advance of the hearing and to review the evidence properly, ensuring thorough preparation. This approach can significantly reduce the understandable anxiety of attending court and assists in achieving the best possible outcome.
Luton Crown Court sits at 7 George Street, a short walk from our office and the Magistrates’ Court. Whether your case is sent to the Crown Court for sentence or trial, we can provide specialist representation throughout the proceedings. We have excellent working relationships with some of the leading barristers’ chambers in the country and regularly instruct advocates who achieve outstanding results.
We offer a range of options, from in-house advocates and junior counsel to the most respected King’s Counsel, allowing us to select the barrister whose experience and approach best fits your case and budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Luton and South Bedfordshire Magistrates’ Court runs a busy daily list, meaning several cases may be listed in the same court at the same time. Cases are generally called in on a first come, first served basis, though custody cases are given priority. If you have reviewed the court papers in advance and know your position on plea, your case is likely to be dealt with more quickly. A not guilty plea may be processed within 10 to 15 minutes once called in. If you are pleading guilty, the hearing may take longer while the court hears mitigation. If a Probation Report is ordered, the case may be put back later in the day or adjourned to a further date.
Cases arising in Luton and South Bedfordshire are ordinarily dealt with at Luton and South Bedfordshire Magistrates’ Court on Stuart Street. Cases from North Bedfordshire and Bedford are generally heard at Bedford Magistrates’ Court. The most serious indictable offences from across Bedfordshire are sent to Luton Crown Court on George Street for trial or sentence.
Yes. We regularly advise and represent clients attending voluntary interviews at police stations across Bedfordshire, including Luton Police Station on Buxton Road, Dunstable Police Station, and Kempston. A voluntary interview should always be treated seriously, as the police will rely on what is said when deciding whether to charge. You are entitled to free legal representation at a voluntary interview – do not attend without a solicitor.
If the Magistrates consider that your offence merits a Community Order or a custodial sentence, a Pre-Sentence Report is likely to be ordered and you will be required to meet with the Probation Service. The Probation Officer will typically ask about your personal circumstances, employment, finances, health, background and attitude towards the offence. It is important to be fully prepared before speaking to probation, as their report can play a key role in sentencing.
Yes. In many cases we can offer fixed fee representation for advice and preparation, Magistrates’ Court hearings, voluntary police interviews, and pre-charge defence work. The appropriate fee structure will depend on the type of allegation, the stage of the investigation, and the amount of preparation required.
No. A case being sent to Luton Crown Court does not automatically mean a prison sentence will follow. If you plead guilty or are found guilty, the Crown Court Judge will review the sentencing guidelines and will hear personal mitigation from your defence barrister. Prison sentences of up to three years can now be suspended in appropriate cases, and the final sentence will depend on the specific circumstances and seriousness of the offence.
If you plead not guilty to a summary-only offence at Luton Magistrates’ Court, such as common assault or harassment, your case will usually be heard before three magistrates or a single District Judge. If your case is sent to Luton Crown Court, the trial will take place before a jury of 12 members of the public.
There is no dedicated public parking at the court itself. The nearest car parks include the Galaxy Centre multi-storey on Bridge Street and Bute Street car park, both a short walk from Stuart Street. Luton railway station is approximately a 10-minute walk from the court and our Stuart Street office.
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