Police and Military Law

Police and Military Lawyers

Reeds’ Police and Military Law department can represent military or police personnel in England and Wales for any criminal and misconduct proceedings. Our specialist team of police and military lawyers here at Reeds are experts in representing military personnel from the RAF, Army, and Navy. Our military lawyers frequently attend bases across the UK and abroad to provide our clients with clear and honest, round the clock advice.

Military Law Services

This is a highly specialised area of law, and is deserving of a legal team who have experience in dealing with these cases. At Reeds, we have senior practitioners with experience of successfully defending members of the Armed Forces charged with a variety of serious offences in Courts Martial proceedings. Our team of barristers and solicitor-advocates can assist in representing military personnel in a range of cases before Courts Martial, including homicide, sexual offences, fraud and assault.

Our military lawyers are dedicated in providing an unparalleled and seamless service to our clients. As an award-winning and nationally recognised established law firm, we consult with our advocates while our clients are still in the investigation stage, so you can be sure that your case is being expertly directed from the very beginning. Dedication to our client-centred approach provides you with assurance that you are in the safest hands if you need representation for any investigation – whether under arrest or voluntarily, in relation to any military offences.

Police Federation Services

Reeds Solicitors provide legal advice and assistance to members of the Police Federation of England and Wales. Whether for criminal or for misconduct allegations, we continue to represent officers for both on and off duty allegations and have a dedicated team to advise and defend professional clients who are being investigated by their own professional bodies. Our experience extends to representing clients in breaches of professional standards and allegations of serious misconduct and criminal matters.

Before any instruction can be taken we ask for all members of the Police Federation to contact their local branch board for further information on legal expense insurance and available funding for both on and off duty matters.

Should a member require urgent advice or representation at the Police station outside office hours, you can call us on our emergency out of hours number – 03332 401119. Our experienced and dedicated team are available to represent you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and their attendance at the Police station is often free of charge.

Any allegation of wrongdoing can be extremely worrying. As a member of the Police or Armed Forces, if you are accused of a criminal offence or a breach of standing orders, the proceedings can be emotionally draining. These stressful processes can also put your career or military record at risk.

Police and Military Law is a specialised area of law. If you are facing an interview, investigation or accusations of wrongdoing, it’s important to contact a military lawyer immediately. Call us on  0333 240 7373, or email us at info@reeds.co.uk.

What Offences Can Reeds Help With?

Our police and military lawyers can provide representation for police and military law investigations. These include, but are not limited to:

    • Offences involving dishonesty (theft, fraud, etc.)

    • Possession of an offensive weapon, bladed article or firearm

    • Offences involving drugs

    • Motoring offences

    • Sexual offences

Or, any disciplinary allegation or service offence including:

    • Misconduct on operations

    • Absence without leave

    • Misconduct towards a superior officer

    • Failure to attend, or perform, duty

    • Conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline

    • Obstructing or failing to assist a service police officer

    • Contravening standing orders

There may be other allegations that are not featured above. If you would like to discuss any aspects of your case, get in touch with our team on  0333 240 7373, or email us at info@reeds.co.uk.

 

Zoe Heron - Reeds Solicitors
Zoe Heron

Senior Associate, Team Leader & CILEx Advocate

Meet the team

How We Can Help

We are one of a select few law firms that have specialist knowledge and skills concerning military law. We also provide legal advice and representation to police officers facing criminal and misconduct proceedings. We know the law concerning these types of matters inside out and you can be confident that we will manage your case strategically and build a vigorous defence.

Military and police discipline investigations and criminal prosecutions can have a devastating effect on your family and other personal relationships. You may also feel sidelined and isolated at work. We will fight tenaciously to defend you; you can trust that we will listen to your side of the story with compassion and sensitivity.

We have senior practitioners with a wealth of experience in successfully defending members of the Armed Forces charged with a variety of serious offences in Court Martial proceedings.

Our Police and Military Lawyers handle a wide range of legal matters, including but not limited to breach of professional standards, police criminal and misconduct proceedings (including the use of a firearm and instances where a person has been killed by an officer), misconduct in military operations, drug possession and supply, sexual offences, and more. No matter how complex your case, we have the expertise to provide robust legal advice and representation.

Our understanding of the culture and lifestyle associated with police and military life ensures that our legal advice is tailored to you. It also helps us create persuasive legal arguments and strategically plan and prepare for investigations and court proceedings.

Get in touch

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FAQ

In standard civilian courts in England and Wales, there are Magistrates Courts and Crown Courts. Magistrates Court deal with less serious offences whilst a Crown Court is reserved for the most serious criminal cases.

In the Armed Forces, there is a Court Martial, Service Civilian Court and a Summary Appeal Court. The Court Martial is akin to the Crown Court, i.e. it is reserved for serious military offences.

Summary Hearings are usually managed by your Commanding Officer and deal with less serious allegations.

If you are due to be interviewed under caution, you are entitled to free and independent legal advice and assistance at that interview. If the matter progresses to a Court Martial, you are invited to apply for Legal Aid from the Armed Forces Legal Aid Team. However, the application is means tested and you may be refused Legal Aid.

If you are facing a summary hearing, there is no Legal Aid available. Advice and assistance can only be funded privately. If you are facing AGAI action, there is no Legal Aid and you will have to privately fund any advice and assistance.

In all cases, a service personnel should be provided with an assisting officer, a fellow service personnel who can assist throughout proceedings. It’s important to note that an assisting officer is not legally trained.