Police Investigations, Complaints & Bail

Who this service is for

• Victims or authorised representatives: people who wish to make a formal complaint to the police, provide additional material or understand the next steps in an existing complaint.
• People asked to attend an investigation, accused of an offence or arrested: people who need to check a notice, allegation, interview or detention situation and assess arrangements for legal assistance and subsequent procedures.
• Family members: people who cannot currently contact the person concerned and wish to establish the authority involved, the person's current situation and possible next steps. A family member's enquiry does not by itself establish authority to instruct us on that person's behalf or a right to full access to the case file.

Scope of work

• Victim complaints and follow-up: once the engagement scope has been confirmed, organise the sequence of events, harm and available evidence, and review the request to be put to the police and any existing records. A formal criminal complaint and a police daily entry made solely to record information serve different purposes. The responsible lawyer should assess the requirements for a complaint, the competent authority and the next steps against the facts. Assistance with preparing a complaint statement, providing additional material and following up an accepted matter may be agreed.
• Police-stage assistance for a person under investigation or arrest: check any notice or known allegation, the person's situation, the authority handling the matter and the next procedural arrangements. Within the agreed scope, assess available documents, material that should be preserved, and arrangements for a lawyer's involvement in an interview or subsequent defence. Access to case documents and participation in procedures depend on the person's status, the stage of the matter and the applicable legal requirements.
• Family enquiries and bail assessment: first establish the person's location, the stage of detention or transfer, and any notices the family has received. Where the procedural requirements for an application for temporary release are met, the responsible lawyer can assess the authority to which the application should be made, the proposed identity and contact information, and any security or other supporting material. The lawyer may prepare or assist with submission of the application within the engagement scope. The documents required depend on the case and the authority's requirements.
• Subsequent criminal defence or representation of a victim: if the matter moves to the public prosecutor or court, the allegations, evidence, authority to act, work and fees must be agreed separately. Police-stage assistance or a bail application does not automatically include a full criminal defence, a civil claim or other administrative or immigration procedures.

Documents typically required

• Victims: a chronology, locations, relevant people or entities, existing police records, contracts or transaction documents where relevant, payment and communication records, and other lawfully obtained evidence. Do not circulate other people's private information publicly for the purpose of seeking advice.
• People under investigation or arrest: the summons or notice, known allegations, the authority and contact person handling the matter, the interview or attendance date, the person's current location, procedural documents already received, and relevant material lawfully held.
• Family members: their relationship to the person concerned, available contact details, the person's last confirmed location and the time it was confirmed, any notice from an authority, and the next known procedural date. Prepare identity or security-related material for a proposed bail application after the lawyer has checked the applicable procedure.
• You can explain the facts already known even if the documents are incomplete. The responsible lawyer will identify any originals, translations, authorisation documents or other material needed for the particular case.

Typical deliverables

• Depending on the engagement scope, deliverables may include an explanation of the verified procedural stage and matters still to be checked; a document checklist and proposed next steps for a victim's complaint, a person's response to an investigation or a bail application; statements, applications or other procedural documents actually commissioned; and updates on upcoming dates, conditions or outstanding tasks. Documents, attendance and communication work are subject to the agreed engagement and the authority's procedures.

Before we begin

Acceptance of a formal complaint, the progress of an investigation, temporary release and the final case outcome are matters for the competent authorities under the facts and applicable law. We cannot guarantee that making a report will result in a case being opened, same-day release, approval of bail, withdrawal of charges or a particular judgment. Temporary release does not end the case. If release is granted, check the reporting, attendance and other conditions in the actual decision. You may use Chinese to explain your matter to us. Whether the particular lawyer can provide Chinese-language assistance during a police interview or court appearance, and what interpretation arrangements are required, must be confirmed for the individual matter. Contact hours, availability to attend and fees depend on the specific arrangements; this page does not promise round-the-clock assistance.