HOW TO BECOME A POLICE STATION REP
Becoming a police station rep is not difficult and nearly anyone can do it. Below is a summary of the process. The rest of this page contains useful information on how to become a rep.
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THE 10 STEPS TO BECOME A POLICE STATION REP:
1. Read this page and all the document in the links. Get to know the business, the rules and the requirements before you do anything else. The job of a rep is not for everyone and you need to understand what it entails before you go any further.
2. Find a Supervising Solicitor. Without a doubt finding a supervising solicitor is the toughest part of all especially if you are not a policeman or a lawyer.
3. Make contact with a few reps in your area. We are a friendly bunch generally. Go out on a few attendances with other reps. We all have our own styles and you'll need to find yours. Watching someone else in action is perhaps the best introduction to the job.
4. Register with an Assessment Organisation, complete Part A of the Portfolio and pass the written exam. Apply to the Police Station Reps Service (PSRS) to become a Probationary Representative and get your unique PIN number.
5. As a Probationary Rep you can work for 12 months at police stations, on a limited basis, without direct supervision.
6. Before the end of that 12 months you need to successfully complete and pass the Critical Incidents Test and Part B of the Portfolio. If you fail to pass, the Criminal Defence Service will suspend you, and your firm will not be paid for work you perform at the police station. You will have to go back to the beginning and start again.
7. Once you have done all of that you are a Police Station Representative! Its not hard but you do need to be organised.
8. Once you are up and running you need to keep abreast of the law and you need to collect at least 6 CPD points a year.
9. If you are confident and capable you may well decide to go freelance. If you do you are then very welcome to register on this site! Best of luck.
10. Erm, thats it.
WHAT IS A POLICE STATION REPRESENTATIVE:
Being a Police station representative is perhaps the best job in the world. Admittedly, we are somewhat biased. All the people involved in running this web site are themselves qualified and practicing Police Station Representatives! The job involves:
* Giving legal advice to suspects under arrest in police stations
* Flexibility is a must. Policing is a 24 hour a day business, 365 days of the year. Police Station Representatives therefore often work very unsocial hours. We work at any time of the day and night. As an employee of a firm of solicitors you may have very little choice in the hours you work but as an independent representative you can pretty much choose your own hours.
* We are experts in criminal law providing advice to suspects in a clear and unambiguous way. Criminals are not always law graduates so we use language that our client's can understand. We examine the significance of a client's version of events and give legal advice. Analytical skills are a prerequisite. An interest in criminal law is a must.
* Good listening skills are essential along with an ability to communicate with people at all levels. The police arrest everyone in society from children to those with severe mental health issues. It is essential that Police station representative's can communicate with anyone.
* Salaries for this type of work are generally high, in the region of �27,000 to �30,000, increasing to around �50,000. However, solicitors are not the most generous of employers and some police station representatives earn significantly less.
HOW TO BECOME A POLICE STATION REPRESENTATIVE:
So you wanna be a police station rep? The job is open to anyone not just solicitors but by and large most reps are either practicing solicitors or ex-police officers. Naturally you will need to be a person of suitable character.
Anyone can apply to become accredited as a Police Station Representative, with the following exceptions:
• Serving police officers
• Special constables
• Individuals employed in any capacity that may cause a conflict of interest when undertaking Criminal Defence Service work
In order to qualify you will need to find a firm of solicitors to sponsor and supervise you. The Law Society publishes a list of all the firms in England and Wales on their website at www.lawsociety.org.uk. You will need to apply to one of these firms. They will then be able to help you through the qualification process. Naturally, finding a firm to supervise you is not all that easy - solicitors are facing a real downturn at present. But they need people to attend police stations.
Once over that hurdle you will need to take a few courses and a few exams. Nothing too hard but you need to demonstrate that you know what you are doing. Training to be a police station representative involves fewer exams than you might expect. You do not have to have a law degree and you do not have to be a qualified lawyer. But qualified solicitors and barristers are exempt from some of the exams.
Before you can work in the industry you must pass the Police Station Representative Accreditation Scheme. It is not hugely expensive and firms of solicitors can often be persuaded to stump up the fees and provide training in-house. It typically takes between 6 and 12 months to obtain accreditation.
For more information either click on the above ad or click HERE
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Click on the link for a useful guidance note provided by the Legal Services Commission. . |
If you like some help or guidance please feel free to contact us. We try to answer all emails reasonably quickly.
Finding a solicitor to supervise your accreditation can be rather difficult. The only advice we can give you is to call, visit and write to local criminal firms. They are always on the look out for good candidates to act as police station reps.
You may be tempted to start the training process without a Supervising Solicitor. Our advice is simple: don't do it! We think you should find a Supervising Solicitor first. There is little point shelling out your own money to do a vocational course that will not lead to an income. Once you have a Supervising Solicitor then you know that the courses are worth pursuing.
Traditionally the job has been done by former police officers and by lawyers. Both, of course, have contacts with instructing and supervising solicitors. So, it can be a bit tougher for those who are outside the Criminal Justice System. But perseverance is the key. Sadly its a case of badgering the firms until one of them takes you on. In our view you should avoid any firm that asks you to pay for the training and exams youself.
The firms will make a good deal of money training you up so there is no excuse for that sort of exploitation. You can find local firms of solicitors on the law society web site (there is a link on the left of this page) or if you are happy to make a small donation to the site we are happy to provide you with a list of criminal firms in your area.
The list includes the firms name, address,
telephone number, DX number and e-mail address. Click here to send us a mail requesting a list. Don't forget to tell us what area you are in!
If you found our site useful please feel free to donate to help us keep it going. |
HOW TO KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE LAW:
Keeping Up to Date: Criminal Law is a living, breathing and constantly developing area. It is essential for all police station representatives to keep up to date with the law. One of the best ways to keep up to date is to subscribe to the e-mail updates provided CrimeLine. The emails are written by Andrew Keogh. He now has over 12,000 subscribers including criminal lawyers, judges and academics. Each issue provides legal updates including the latest cases, legislation and news. Best of all its FREE!. Click here to sign up or point your browser at www.wikicrimeline.co.uk.
Legal books are not cheap but they are indispensable. Here we try to evaluate the good the bad and the unnecessary. You don't have to read any of them but the more you read the better a rep you will be.
When it comes to buying legal books keep an eye out on the second hand market. Both Amazon and eBay often feature used books. Students and people who fail the accreditation scheme will often dump unwanted books onto the market. But beware! Always check the publishing date. An out of date book can be downright dangerous. Law is a developing field and keeping up to date is essential.
A brand new copy of Ed Cape's bible commands a hefty price tag of around £50 but an old edition can be picked up for as little as a tenner. Keep an eye out at the end of every academic year as prices can drop dramatically.
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Sample Model Portfolios
The most daunting part of accreditation is the portfolio.
This book contains a complete sample portfolio for the Law Society Police Station Representatives
Scheme. 4 Part A cases and 5 Part B cases. All cases in the portfolio
have been assessed at the competence standard for the PSRAS scheme.
Andrew Keogh is an approved assessor for both police station and duty solicitor
schemes and until recently was Chief Assessor for CLAS.
Click here to go Amazon. |
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The Police & Criminal Evidence Act 1984 - This is so important it has its own page on this site. It is essential that you know it backwards. The Codes of Practice are well know by most reps but all of us need regular refreshers. The best reps know the Act itself inside out as well. Click here to go to our dedicated page. |
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Defending Suspects at Police Stations: The Practitioner's Guide to Advice and Representation by Ed Cape. It would be hard to over hype this book. Without a shadow of a doubt it is the bible for police station advisors. If you do not have a copy go and get one now. Chances are though that you already have a well thumbed copy! Like a vintage car it will only slowly depreciate in value. Even second hand copies on Amazon and eBay can change hands for only a little under the RRP. What makes it so good is Mr Cape's sheer authority on the subject. It is comprehensive and accessible, written for the practitioner not the academic. |
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Archbold: Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice
is the serious advocate's bible. Solicitors, barristers and judges rely
on it as the definitive guide to Criminal Law. This mighty tome is
published annually with supplements sent to owners each month. This is
a serious book with a serious price tag. New it costs �360 but we would
recommend the digital edition which comes in at a whopping �500. Second
hand copies go for around �80 and are well worth a look. The book
considers the elements of each offence along with relevant case law. |
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Banks on Sentencing by Robert Banks
is our current favourite book. Police Reps are not usually great at
predicting sentences because we are only trained to learn the maximum
sentence. But clients rarely get the maximum sentence. That's where this
excellent book comes in. Robert Banks has produced an exhaustively
researched guide to sentencing. It is fast becoming the definitive
work for determining sentences for almost all prosecuted offences. The
offences dealt with range from Smoking and Parking to Murder and
Terrorism. Expect to pay over �40 for a new copy. Its so good you are
unlikely to find a second hand copy in a hurry. |
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Nutshells Criminal Law by Paul Dobson.
The Nutshells series covers an amazing variety of subjects. Although
this book is aimed at law students cramming for finals it is a
valuable tool for all police station reps. It very cheap (new its
around �8 and second hand they can be picked up for pennies). But, it
is very slim and will fit into a pocket. It provides a very quick and
easily digestible summary of major case law for the most common
offences. Every solicitor has a copy hidden away at the bottom of his
desk. |
Got a favourite book you use at the police station?
Contact us and we will be happy to plug it here.
Lets be frank, the courses are pricey but the exams are relatively easy. The process is a bit bureaucratic and there are deadlines to be met. If you are organised you can complete the whole thing in a weekend but most people take between 6 months and a year to do it.
1. Find a Supervising Solicitor.
2. Register with an Assessment Organisation.
3. Complete part A of the Portfolio and pass the written exam.
4. Apply to the Police Station Reps Service (PSRS) to become a Probationary Representative and get your unique PIN number.
5. Go to work as a Probationary Rep for 12 months. This allows you to work at police stations, on a limited basis, without direct supervision.
6. You must successfully complete at least one of the assessments within six months of registering as a Probationary Representative.
7. Within 12 months you must pass the Critical Incidents Test and Part B of the portfolio.
8. All assessments must be completed within 12-months.
9. If you fail to meet the above requirements, the Criminal Defence Service will suspend you, and your firm will not be paid for work you perform at the police station.
10. Once you have done all of that you are a Police Station Representative! Its not hard but you do need to be organised.
i. First off you need to find a Supervising Solicitor. This can be a bit tricky (see above Finding a Supervising Solicitor). The application form that must be submitted to the PSRS in order to be registered as a Probationary Representative includes a Certificate of Fitness. This certificate asks the Supervising Solicitor to declare to the best of his or her knowledge that you are of suitable character to provide legal advice at police stations. Your Supervising Solicitor is your guide and mentor through the process. He is your guru there to help and advise you. Sadly, they rarely live up to expectations; be prepared to do it all on your own!
ii. Next register with an Assessment Organisation to begin the accreditation process. The Assessment Organisations are listed below:
• University of Wales, Centre for Professional Studies, PO Box 294, Cardiff, CF1 3UX (02920 876 948)
• Datalaw, 27 Dale Street, Liverpool, L2 2DH (0151 236 1234)
• University of Swansea, School of Law, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP (01792 602 251)
• Central Law Training, Wrens Court, 52-54 Victoria Road, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, B72 1SX (0121 362 7703)
iii. Next you must jump a few hurdles before you can register with the Police Station Reps Service (PSRS) as a Probationary Representative. You need to complete both Part A of the Portfolio and the Written Examination. Part A of the portfolio has two stages:
Part A consists of four case reports of advice provided at a police station with the direct involvement of a duty solicitor. The first two reports (Stage 1) are of instances in which you've observed the duty solicitor giving advice, and the other two (Stage 2) are of instances in which you have advised a client, under the direct supervision of a duty solicitor.
Stage 1 is nice and easy. It involves observing a solicitor giving advice to two clients at a police station. The advice in these cases can be given by any eligible solicitor and may be Duty or Own Client cases. The cases may be summary, either way, or indictable only.
Stage 2 is a bit scary as it consists of 2 cases in which a solicitor observes you giving advice in a police station. The observing solicitor must be your Supervising Solicitor. The cases must not be Duty cases or indictable only. If your Supervising Solicitor has to intervene at the police station then that case will not be valid for inclusion in stage 2.
Written Exam: Don't panic it is not all that difficult and involves simple legal and procedural questions. The questions revolve around the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and the elements of the most common offences. The written examination assesses knowledge and understanding of basic criminal law, the law of evidence, police station procedures, the adviser's role and necessary skills.
iv. Once you have passed the written exam and Part A of the Portfolio you have to complete an application form. This form is sent to the PSRS. They register you as a Probationary Representative and issue you with a PIN number within 14 days of receiving the fully completed form.
v. Following your registration as a Probationary Representative you have a couple of deadlines to meet. Basically, you have one year to complete your portfolio and pass all the exams. Within the first 6 months you must pass one of the remaining Accreditation Tests (Part B of the Portfolio or the Critical Incidents Test). If you do not pass one of the tests within 6 months of registration with the PSRS, you will be suspended from the Register.
Critical Incidents Test: the oral exam. This is a live role-play test, based on audio-tapes of simulated police-station interviews. You can offer advice during set pauses in the recording. You can also choose to interrupt the interview to give advice. Your responses are recorded and subsequently assessed.
Written Examination: this exam assesses knowledge and understanding of basic criminal law, the law of evidence, police station procedures, the adviser's role and necessary skills. Barristers, members of ILEX and holders of an LPC are exempt from the written exam.
Portfolio Part A consists of four case reports of advice provided at a police station with the direct involvement of a duty solicitor. The first two reports are of instances in which you've observed the duty solicitor giving advice, and the other two are of instances in which you have advised a client, under the direct supervision of a duty solicitor.
Portfolio Part B must be completed before the end of your 12-month period as a probationary representative. It comprises five detailed reports of cases that you have conducted yourself at a police station.
OTHER STUFF WORTH KNOWING
viii. You should note that the LSC contribute £400 towards the cost of your accreditation. This is available to all representatives who have successfully completed the accreditation process. The money is paid to the firm employing the solicitor who is your Supervising Solicitor at the time of accreditation. A claim form (CDS13) is available on the LSC website.
ix. Anyone can apply to become accredited as a Police Station Representative, with the following exceptions:
x. Once qualified you are required to do the following:• Serving police officers
• Special constables
• Individuals employed in any capacity that may cause a conflict of interest when undertaking Criminal Defence Service work
• Undertake a minimum of 25 police station attendances per yearxi. You must advise the PSRS if:
• Undertake 6 hours Continuous Professional Development (CPD) training on issues relevant to criminal law (which may include internal courses).
• Employer or employer's address changes
• Supervising Solicitor changes
• Employed as a special constable or in any other capacity that may cause a conflict of interest
• Under investigation, faces an outstanding criminal charge or has been convicted of an offence or is the subject of an investigation by the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors or the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal
xi. Freelance Representatives: Subject to the limitations in Part D of the Contract Specification, the General Criminal Contract does not restrict an Accredited Representative from undertaking work for more than one CDS supplier. We only encourage freelance reps to register on this site. Once you are qualified and working freelance please feel free to register. We help solicitors all over the UK find reps to represent their clients at the police station.
xii. Probationary Representatives can only work for one firm. A Probationary Representative may only provide Police Station Advice assistance for the firm at which his or her supervising solicitor is based. The firm must hold a General Criminal Contract.
MORE DETAILED INFO
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This is the LSC Guide to accreditation as a police station rep. It provides all the detail of the process to becoming a rep. | |
This document is a Portfolio Guide which details what is expected in the Portfolio all reps have to submit. . | |
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The Standards of Competence is a guide to the under pining knowledge, skills and performance expected of reps. | |
This is the Payment Annex from Oct 2011. It details how much you get paid for attending police stations. |
Should you have any queries please feel free to use the contact page to drop us a line. We get an awful lot of enquiries about how to become a police station rep. We are happy to field any questions that may occur to you.
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If you are an Accredited Police Station Representative and would like to appear on our database of accredited police station representatives please click on the link above. You will be presented with a short form which you will need to complete. Right now we are in the process of developing this site. Whilst we are pleased that registration is currently free we can in no way guarantee that this will always be the case. This is an introductory offer and you should register now to take advantage of it.
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If you would like your details to appear on this web site please take a moment to register your contact details on the UK's only national database for accredited police station representatives. Registration is completely free. Every day solicitors up and down the country need to find accredited police station representatives. If you need more business, and lets face it who doesn't, then you should register now!
BEEN ARRESTED? This web site is for the use of legal professionals only. Please note that if you or someone you know has been arrested you should contact a solicitor. this web site is for the use of solicitors and their employees only.