Have you received an invitation to a police interview, or are you involved in a criminal case as a suspect? Arslan Advocaten helps clients from Schiedam with criminal law questions from our office in Rotterdam. Have the invitation or the decision you received to hand and state when you have to appear. That way we can first look at what assistance is needed and when.
An invitation may sound informal, while the conversation has important consequences. That is why this page focuses on preparing for an interview and the first stage of a criminal case. Here you will find what you can gather, what questions you should ask and when further advice is needed. Our general services are described under criminal law.
Have you been called as a suspect or as a witness?
Read the invitation carefully. The capacity in which you are being heard is important for your rights and obligations. Does it not state clearly why you have to come or what the conversation is about? Discuss that with your lawyer during the preparation.
A conversation as a witness is not the same as an interview as a suspect. The situation can also change during an investigation. Do not rely solely on the reassurance that you only need to tell your side of the story. First have it established what the invitation involves.
Write down the date, location and contact person stated on the invitation. Also keep a record of earlier phone calls or messages, in so far as you have a factual summary of them. Your lawyer can discuss what information is available in advance and which questions still need to be clarified.
Advice before you make a statement
As a suspect, you have rights regarding legal assistance and answering questions. A lawyer can explain how the interview proceeds and which choices you need to weigh up in your own situation. That advice depends partly on what is known about the suspicion and the case file.
A statement is more than an informal conversation. What you say may be recorded and later play a role in the case. It is therefore important that you understand what question is being asked and that uncertainties are not filled in with assumptions.
Preparation does not mean making up a story. It is about understanding your position, putting the facts in order and understanding the process. Tell your lawyer honestly what you know and what you are no longer sure about. A suspicion or recollection should not be presented as an established fact.
Also discuss whether language or other circumstances make it harder to understand questions. Mention this in advance. Good communication is important for a careful interview and for assessing what is ultimately recorded.
What information should you gather for the first meeting?
Start with the invitation and any other letters from the police, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) or the court. In addition, draw up a short timeline of the events that you believe the case is about. State what you observed yourself and what you heard from someone else.
Relevant material may consist of messages, agreements or other documents that put the events in context. Keep it in its original form. Do not alter files and do not delete data that may be relevant to the investigation. Discuss with your lawyer how the material should be assessed and, if appropriate, submitted.
Do not contact other people involved yourself to align statements. That can cause new problems and undermine the reliability of information. Pass the names of possible witnesses on to your lawyer and discuss which investigative questions are relevant.
Your lawyer does not always have the full case file straight away. The options for inspecting it may depend on the stage of the investigation. We explain what can already be assessed and which conclusions cannot yet be drawn.
If you have been arrested
In the event of an arrest, the situation is different from a scheduled appointment. Ask for legal assistance and say if you want a lawyer of your choice to be contacted. The actual availability and arrangements for assistance are then determined.
Family members often do not have all the information straight away. Keep contact details and write down what the police have said. It is important not to raise expectations about release or the length of the investigation before the actual situation is known.
At the first contact, we discuss what help can be arranged at that moment. So state clearly that it concerns an arrest that is taking place now and what information you have about the location and the time.
What can happen after an interview?
An interview may be followed by further investigation. The Public Prosecution Service may also decide later on how the case is to be disposed of. An interview does not automatically mean that the case is closed, and not hearing anything straight away is no guarantee that nothing further will follow.
Keep new letters and forward them in good time if your lawyer is handling the case. A punishment order, an invitation to a Public Prosecution Service hearing and a summons each call for their own assessment. Pay attention to dates and do not assume that an earlier assignment automatically covers every new step.
If a punishment order is imposed, an objection (verzet) may be an option. Time limits and special rules apply to this. Have the order assessed before you decide to accept or pay it. More explanation can be found on our page about having received a punishment order.
Consequences for work, education and a VOG
A criminal case may raise concerns about work or study. Whether a case has consequences for a Certificate of Conduct (VOG) depends on the relevant facts and the position for which the VOG is requested. A simple guarantee is therefore not possible.
Tell your lawyer what specific interests are at stake. Is there a job, work placement or course for which a VOG will be needed soon? Is your driving licence important for your work? Those circumstances may be relevant to advice on your situation as a whole.
Moreover, a VOG decision has its own procedure. An intention to refuse is something different from a final refusal. For that, see our page on a refused VOG and have any documents you receive assessed separately.
Costs and arrangements about assistance
The costs depend on the work involved and on whether a scheme for subsidised legal aid applies. Do not assume that every criminal case is automatically handled free of charge. The situation and the applicable conditions must be examined.
Agree clearly what the lawyer is being engaged for: preparing for an interview, assistance during the interview or further handling of the case. Follow-up work and any additional costs also deserve attention in advance.
Frequently asked questions about criminal law in Schiedam
Can I come to Arslan from Schiedam?
Yes. You can discuss your criminal law question through our office in Rotterdam. State the date of the interview or hearing and, after consultation, send us the relevant invitation.
Do I need advice if I have done nothing wrong?
Even then, it can be useful to understand why you are being heard and what significance a statement has. Legal preparation concerns your position and the care taken in the process, regardless of your own view of the suspicion.
Do I have to answer all the questions?
Your rights depend partly on the capacity in which you are being heard. As a suspect, you have the right to remain silent on questions about the suspicion. Discuss with your lawyer what that means in your specific situation; a general web page does not determine an interview strategy.
Can my lawyer read the whole case file in advance?
That is not possible at every stage. The information available and the options for inspection are assessed. Your lawyer can indicate what preparation is already possible and what information is still missing.
May I provide messages that could help me?
Discuss relevant material with your lawyer and keep it unaltered. The lawyer can assess what significance it has and how it can be introduced into the case in an appropriate way.
What if the interview is tomorrow?
Contact us straight away and state the date and time. We will look at what assistance can still be arranged. Do not wait to contact us until you have gathered all the background documents.
Discuss your invitation or criminal case
Contact Arslan Advocaten and mention Schiedam, the type of letter and the next upcoming date. You do not need to put your full statement in a contact form; a short description is enough to direct the first contact.