Urgent — Auckland
Arrested?
Here's what to do
right now.
Whether it's you or someone you care about, the next few hours matter. Stay calm, follow the steps below, and get legal advice before answering any questions.
Call Sam now — 7 days, urgent matters prioritised
- You do not have to answer questions about the allegation
- You have the right to speak to a lawyer without delay — in private
- Do not sign anything before getting advice
- Police must tell you why you have been arrested
1. Say nothing about the allegation
You must give Police your name, address, and date of birth. Beyond that, you have the right to silence under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. You do not have to give a statement, answer questions about what happened, or explain yourself — and it is almost always in your interest to say nothing about the allegation until you have spoken to a lawyer. Be polite, but say: "I don't wish to make a statement until I've spoken to my lawyer."
2. Ask to speak to a lawyer — immediately and in private
You have the right to consult and instruct a lawyer without delay, and in private. Police must let you exercise that right and must stop questioning you while you do. Call Sam on 022 690 5828. If it is the middle of the night and you cannot reach a private lawyer, you can ask for the free Police Detention Legal Assistance (PDLA) lawyer on duty — then contact Sam as soon as possible afterwards.
3. Don't sign anything
Do not sign statements, summaries of interviews, or property lists you have not read and understood — and do not consent to searches, DNA samples, or interviews without legal advice. Saying "I'd like legal advice before I agree to anything" is enough.
4. What happens next
After arrest, Police must either release you (with or without charges), grant you Police bail, or bring you before a court promptly — usually the next sitting day. If you are charged, your first appearance will be in the District Court. Nothing substantive is decided at that first appearance and you do not have to enter a plea, but decisions about bail can be made — which is exactly when having a lawyer already engaged makes a difference.
If someone you know has been arrested
If your partner, child, or friend has been arrested, you can help by contacting a lawyer on their behalf straight away and finding out which station they are being held at. Tell the officer in charge that a lawyer has been instructed and is to be contacted before any interview. Then call Sam — urgent matters are prioritised, seven days a week.
The first 24 hours matter
Early advice can change the direction of a case: what is said (or not said) in the first Police interview, whether bail is opposed, and how charges are framed are often shaped in the first day. Getting a lawyer involved before the interview is the single most valuable step you can take.