If Wiltshire Police have asked you to attend a voluntary interview in Swindon or elsewhere in Wiltshire, it is important to understand that you are being questioned as a suspect. Interviews are commonly arranged at Gablecross Police Station in Swindon or Melksham Police Station, although they may also take place at other police premises across the county.
The interview will take place under caution, your answers will be recorded and the police may rely on them when deciding whether to charge you. By contacting our solicitors beforehand, we can speak directly with the investigating officer, obtain as much information as the police are prepared to disclose and advise you privately on how best to respond. What happens at the interview may have a significant bearing on whether the investigation ends without further action or leads to criminal charges.
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Preparing You for a Voluntary Police Interview
Before you attend, we contact the officer investigating your case and press for disclosure about the allegation, any witness statements and evidence such as CCTV or forensic material. This puts you in a far better position than walking into the interview cold.
We will review the information with you privately, take your full account and agree how you should approach the interview.
Providing a Full Account
Answering every question can be the clearest way to deny an allegation, but it is not without risk. Inconsistent answers or unnecessary details may ultimately assist the prosecution.
Giving a No-Comment Interview
There are circumstances in which answering questions would create unnecessary risks, particularly when the police have provided limited disclosure or there is no reliable basis on which to give a complete account.
Submitting a Prepared Statement
We may advise you to provide a carefully drafted statement setting out your position before declining to answer some or all further questions. This can place your account on record while reducing the risks associated with open questioning.
Representation Across Swindon and Wiltshire
With offices in Swindon and Melksham, we represent clients at voluntary police interviews throughout Wiltshire.
Gablecross Police Station
Shrivenham Road, Swindon SN3 4RB
Gablecross is one of Wiltshire Police’s two custody units and is a principal location for interviews involving people from Swindon and the surrounding area.
Melksham Police Station
Hampton Park West, Melksham, Wiltshire SN12 6QQ
Melksham Police Station contains Wiltshire Police’s other custody unit and serves a wide area of central and western Wiltshire.
Voluntary Interviews Elsewhere in Wiltshire
Wiltshire Police may also arrange voluntary interviews at other locations, including police premises in Trowbridge, Chippenham, Devizes and Salisbury. We can confirm the arrangements with the investigating officer and attend the interview with you wherever it is due to take place.
Frequently Asked Questions
For an arrest to be lawful, it must be considered necessary. This will often be the case where evidence needs to be obtained from a suspect’s property or seized from a suspect. If the alleged offence took place some time ago, or there is no longer a need to seize evidence, a voluntary interview may be offered instead.
In short, no. The fact that a voluntary interview has been offered does not mean that the allegation is minor or that the police do not have sufficient evidence. It usually means that the police do not consider an arrest necessary.
The police may attend your address to contact you about a voluntary interview. If they are unable to reach you, they may instead contact you by post.
After the interview, the police officer will decide whether any further investigation is needed or whether a charging decision should be sought from an Evidential Review Officer or the Crown Prosecution Service.
We will consider whether any positive action can be taken to advance your position and reduce the risk of a charge. This may include compiling evidence in support of your defence and submitting it to the police with written representations. A proactive approach can sometimes play a crucial role in avoiding a prosecution.
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