It’s important criminal defence lawyers are shielded from COVID-19 and remotely attend police stations rather than in person.

Representations should always be made that the interview not go ahead at all.

That said, the lack of scrutiny of police stations is deeply concerning.

I’ve been a police station rep for a year and I’ve already witnessed many many procedural breaches.

One of the last police stations I dealt with pre-lockdown a youth was strip searched without an appropriate adult present.

This was despite me making it clear by phone that this would be unlawful and demanding what I say be placed on the custody record. The custody officer assured me they wouldn’t SS, and then later in the night did.

It’s been recommended to the youth and family that they sue.

I don’t think it’s controversial to say that there’s a Hawthorne Effect of legal reps strolling around police stations which improves treatment of all arrestees being processed (and at the mercy of the cops).

The fear now is returning to in-person police station work only discover the police have a developed a very different interpretation of what they can and can’t get away with...

As always, if you feel you have been mistreated by the police, get legal advice.