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Crime and justice
What to expect from the police
When you encounter the police, you should expect the same level of quality service wherever you are in the country. All police forces must follow many of the same national guidelines. Find out what you should expect from them.
What to expect at local police stations
Each police force is divided into units, each one of these has a different speciality. So some police officers walk a beat, others investigate traffic accidents and others handle major crimes.
Most people encounter the police at their local station, when they stop in to report a crime or ask for information.
At most police stations, you’ll find a helpdesk, which can be run by either civilian police staff or by police officers, or a mixture of the two. Anyone who sits at the desk will be trained to deal with your questions, and to help you with any problems you have.
If you have general questions about the police and how they work, the police frequently asked questions website can be a good first stop.
Police must treat you fairly
You have a right to a be treated fairly by the police, and the national policing pledge sets out their obligations to you.
The pledge includes ten standards for the service that you can expect to get from police wherever you live in England and Wales.
Among other things, it promises that all police forces will:
- treat you with respect at all times
- ensure you have fair access to police services when you need them
- respond to queries submitted to your neighbourhood policing team within 24 hours
Each police force has produced its own version of the pledge with specific promises about what they will do locally. You can usually find your local pledge on the neighbourhood policing section of your police force website.
Your rights if you’re arrested
If you are arrested for a crime, your rights are protected, and the police must follow the rules set out in the Police and Criminal Evidence (PACE) codes. This code explains how the police must treat you, and what rights you have.
It says, for example, that you have the right to speak with a solicitor and to inform a family member or friend that you’ve been arrested.
You can read about the PACE codes on the Home Office Police website.
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Local crime and justice
Find out what's being done about crime and anti-social behaviour where you live
