In accordance with UK law, if you have been arrested, the police can detain you in custody for a
maximum of 24 hours before they must either charge you with the offence, release you under police bail to return at a later date for further questioning, or release you without charge.
There are exceptions to this 24 hour limit and the police can apply to keep you in custody for up to 36 or 96 hours if you are suspected of committing a particularly serious crime such as murder.
If you’re arrested under the Terrorism Act, you can be held by the police without charge for up to 14 days.
If, following your interview, the police feel they have sufficient evidence to charge you with the offence, you will be charged at the police station.
How long do the police have to charge you with a crime in the UK? The team of expert criminal defence solicitors at Lawtons answer your questions.
www.lawtonslaw.co.uk