Arrest and Search Warrants

Our specialist criminal defence solicitors are experts at successfully challenging both decisions to arrest and search warrants.

Challenging Decisions to Arrest

We understand that the consequences of an arrest can be significant. It can mean detention in police custody, a search of property they deem relevant and being interviewed. It almost always means the collection of your personal information and biometric data, including DNA, fingerprints and photographs, as well as inclusion of the arrest report on the Police National Computer. The fact of your arrest also has the potential to be shared with your employers on a criminal record check in future, even if charges do not follow.

Police do have the discretion to disclose arrested and not charged information and this highlights the importance of knowing whether the arrest was lawful.

Stokoe Partnership Solicitors have good experience of challenging the Police’s decision to arrest. Our lawyers have extensive experience of police station work and claims for compensation where police powers are exceeded.  We have mounted successful judicial reviews for our clients due to unlawful exercise of powers by detaining bodies.

Challenging Search Warrants

There are few things as disruptive and upsetting for an individual or a business as an intrusive search of personal or business premises by investigators armed with a search warrant.

Stokoe Partnership Solicitors can provide immediate legal advice on dealing with the officers and guidance on the lawfulness of the warrant.  Our highly experienced lawyers are able to offer immediate advice and assistance to individuals and businesses facing the arrival of officers.  We can also oversee any search to ensure that search officers are limited to the scope of any warrant granted.

Our team of criminal lawyers are also able to offer extensive experience in reviewing the lawfulness of any search warrant and have substantial knowledge of challenging the lawfulness of the warrant and having the search declared unlawful where applicable.  This can result not only in the return of anything seized during a search but also the payment of damages to the business or individual affected by such a search.