What happens if I have been released under investigation?
You may be
‘released under investigation’ (RUI) by the police following an interview, rather than being given a bail date upon which you are obliged to return to the police station.
If you have been released under investigation you will have been released from custody without charge, with no obligation to return to the police station on bail to provide any further evidence for the offence for which you were questioned for.
However, even once you have been released, the police investigation against you will continue, with further evidence being collected and investigations carried out.
During the period of investigation, you may be required to speak to a police officer, or you may even be arrested again. In some instances, the police may also contact you to make an appointment to attend the police station for a further interview.
Many contributing factors determine how long a police investigation will take and, as such, there is no fixed amount of time associated with an investigation.
How long the investigation takes will depend on the type of offence, any witness evidence and your own evidence, amongst other factors.
You will be notified – at an unspecified point in the future – of the outcome of the investigation. Once the investigation is concluded, the police should notify you of the outcome.
Once the investigation is concluded you will either:
- Receive a letter stating that no further action will be taken
- Receive a postal requisition (previously known as a court summons) to attend the magistrates’ court