Criminal Matters
We offer a full range of Criminal services from the initial free police station interview whether under arrest or attending voluntarily. If charged or summonsed we can continue to represent you throughout the court proceedings covering all aspects from minor motoring offences to the more serious allegations.
Trouble With the Police
We have expert Solicitors who are Accredited Duty Solicitors and Members of The Criminal Law Solicitors Association. We offer a wealth of experience in all types of prosecutions such as those brought by the Police, Local Authorities and other Government Regulatory Bodies, whether it is in the Police Station, Local Magistrates' Court or the Crown Court.
The Service we offer can start from arrest or if you are asked to attend the Police Station as a Voluntary Attender. If under arrest, you can ask for us by name and, if requested to attend a police station voluntarily, you can contact us to make arrangements for one of our team to attend with you. If you are to be interviewed at a police station either under arrest or attending voluntarily, you should contact us as such representation is currently free.
Many clients who face Prosecution may be eligible for Legal Aid to fund their case and we can also provide advice and assistance with that aspect of the matter as well. Unfortunately, Legal Aid is not always available for all types of cases but we may be able to offer a Fixed Fee Service which, of course, will be dependent on the type of allegation you face.
Motoring Offences
Plea in mitigation for Drink Drive
We offer a Fixed Fee Service for a simple Plea in Mitigation for a Drink Drive matter, for a fixed fee of £300 plus Vat at 20% (£360 including vat) and any disbursements which may be incurred, if this is within our local Magistrates' Court. Disbursements are likely to be travel and experts fees as shown below.
Stages and other Costs
For the fixed fee we will obtain the initial evidence in your case from the prosecution. Once in receipt of that evidence we will take your instructions upon the same and advise you on your plea.
We will represent you in the Magistrates’ Court at your first hearing when you are usually required to enter your plea and, in some cases, decide on whether your case should proceed to the Crown Court.
If it is not possible to conclude your case at the first hearing, our fees will be charged on an hourly rate basis.. There may be individual cases where we can agree a fixed fee for further representation, but this is dependent upon the complexity of the case.
Other Motoring Offences
Our hourly rate is £220 (£264 including vat). An estimate of the likely costs will be clearly set out in our initial letter to you but below is an estimate of likely fees involved.
Trial which proceeds in the Magistrates’ Court £1,500 (£1,800 including vat)
Crown Court plea hearing £2,500 (£3,000 including vat) including counsel.
Crown Court trial approximately £7,000 (£8,400 including vat) including counsel.
Disbursements
Travel costs are 45 pence per mile. Parking charges will be an additional fee. (for example, to Court in Truro would be approximately £17.28 or to Bodmin would be £38.88).
The costs of expert reports vary but for example a post driving alcohol consumption report will be in the region of £250.
Timescales
It is difficult to give a timescale for motoring offences as much depends on the Courts and availability. However, an estimate would be in the region of 6 months for a Magistrates’ trial and a year or more for a Crown Court trial.
In the first instance you should contact Mr Charles Hulley who is our Crime Supervisor or Mr Alex Blair.
We are based in Camborne but can cover any of the Criminal Courts and most Police Stations in Cornwall.
