In Victoria, when there is an Investigation on foot, the Police will require to speak to their Suspects. This can be organised to be conducted through various methods:-

  1. Police Requesting for an Interview. If there has been a request for an Interview, the Investigating Officials will inform the Suspect of them being required. It is a must for the person of interest to clarify if they have been placed under arrest, or if this is just a general attendance as opposed to a record of interview. If it is an official record of interview, the person of interest will have their rights read out and offered an opportunity to contact a family member or lawyer. It is recommended that this is the time when a Defence lawyer is contacted immediately.
  2. Ringing the Suspect or Person of Interest and Requesting them to attend a Police Station. No matter how the Person of Interest arrives at the police station, the police can request them to remain at the   police station for a reasonable amount of time to conduct the Interview and make further enquiries. The particulars of the person of interest will be available online on a police database, so their family members are able to contact a police station to ascertain of their whereabouts.

In the interview, take note of the following:-

  1. The Person of interest is taken into an interview room.
  2. This would have been following their Miranda Rights having been read out to them.
  3. The interview will commence; and will be recorded by either audio or audio and video.
  4. Whatever is stated in the interview is often used against the person of interest in the case against them.
  5. It is crucial to either have a Defence lawyer attend the interview with the person of interest, or at least be able to provide legal advise prior to the conducting of a record of interview.
  6. Whether a ‘no comment’ interview or otherwise should be conducted, will come down to the expertise and experience of a Defence lawyer.
  7. It is crucial to always be consistent in the responses of a police record of Interview; and to have a Defence Lawyer’s assistance prior to engaging in one.
  8. Some interviews are as short as 30 minutes; and others may take up to all day, pending on the complexity of the matter at hand.
  9. The police members who will be seated in the Interview are the police Informant and his or her corroborator.Principal Lawyer Mr. Esan Pilai of Jay & CO is able to assist in attending or advising persons of interest in matters he advice he has presenters which are heading towards an Police Arrest and a Record of Interview. Mr. Pilai has attended numerous Police Interviews, where the person of Interest has been in a pivotal position to have their case Defended well.Best Wishes,

Jay & Co Barristers and Solicitors.