WHY YOU SHOULD NOT TALK TO THE POLICE
Let me tell you one of the most important statement to remember if you are arrested and/or being investigated by the police “Do not say anything other than your name, address, telephone number and date of birth TO THE POLICE”.
This Is Your Right
This is of course your right. When you are arrested or investigated by the police you have the right to remain silent and not answer their questions. Not only is it your right, it is the best advise you could ever get. It has been my experience that providing a statement to the police, or just answering a few questions, does not benefit you in the least. In fact more often than not any statement or answers to any questions you provide end up being used against you, regardless of whether it was not meant that way. I have also found in my many years of practice that if the police attempt to get a statement or ask you questions, they are doing so because they do not have enough to arrest you, and therefore are looking for you to give them what they need. I have had many cases where the only evidence against my client was his/her statement and had he/she never provided a statement he/she would never have been arrested.
It Will NOT Hurt You to Not Talk to the Police
If you are ultimately charged, the court cannot draw a negative inference from you not answering the police questions or not giving the police a statement. In other words it will not hurt you not to talk to the police, it can only hurt you to talk to the police. Therefore there is no downside to not providing answers or a statements to the police.
If you are contacted by the police to “come in and answer some questions “, it is likely in relation to potential charges. Therefore the second best advise I can give you is to contact an experience lawyer such as myself, Donna Pledge, a Toronto Criminal lawyer at donnav.pledge@bellnet.ca or 416-630-8702, to first speak with the police on your behalf. The lawyer will ascertain the true reason for you attending the police station as the police’s request. Contacting an experienced lawyer can ultimately stop you from being charged in the first place or at least ensure that you do not provide a statement to the police that can be used against you. Ultimately this could make the difference between you being charged in the first place and being found guilty in the second place. Donna Pledge, a Criminal Lawyer, donnav.pledge@bellnet.ca or 416-630-8702.
