Forces Law

Help

Home > Help

Military Police Interviews

This is a topic which gets all military lawyers hot under the collar! Any service personnel regardless of rank or income is entitled to a lawyer free of charge in any RMP, SIB or civilian police interview. It is a fundamental and very important right. It is therefore a source of concern and frustration to lawyers that many servicemen – unlike civilians – choose to be interviewed by the police without a lawyer present.

It often is totally damaging to the case and by the time the lawyers get involved at court martial stage it is too late and the damage is done. The advice from the Forces Law team is simple – be firm, be sensible and insist on your rights. Ask for a lawyer from Forces Law to represent you free of charge.

Even abroad, the rules have changed and although one still has to begin with a service lawyer, if there is a conflict or a decision not to proceed with that lawyer a civilian lawyer must be appointed. Again, Forces Law have years of experience of assisting servicemen abroad at short notice free of charge.

Forces Legal Aid

HQ Army Legal Assistance (HQ ALA) under the supervision of commander ALA provides legal advice to Servicemen and members of the service community stationed outside the UK.

ALA is based in Bielefeld, Germany and is staffed by 5 ALS Officers and 5 German Legal Assistants.

Advice and assistance is provided by ALA at its Bielefeld offices and at HQ British Forces Cyprus (Legal) in Episkopi. Legal Assistance Clinics take place at Hohne and Joint HQs in Germany and on alternate months on Operation HERRICK. Additional clinics at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, in Belgium and in Northern Ireland are arranged according to demand.

Advice is available at the discretion of Commander ALA on any area of law apart from conveyancing, landlord and tenant administration of estates and the running of a private business. Most of the work relates to personal injury, sale of goods and services, defence of criminal charges in foreign courts and dissolution of marriage and other family matters.

No financial assistance is available from Army Legal Assistance.

For more information see http://www.army.mod.uk/agc/9935.aspx

Locate a Lawyer

Call our central helpline on 0239 262 6888 or email info@forceslaw.com and we’ll put you in touch with a solicitor who can provide the expert advice you need.

Find a member >

What our clients say

Thank you for everything you have done!! You have been amazing from start to finish, I just wish I had come to you in the first place as my previous solicitor didn’t even know there were special rules for Armed Forces wives. Biscoes Solicitors.

(Bolt Burdon Kemp.) You have always been professional, meticulous, understanding, adaptable and really gone up and above in all aspect of our case and customer care. Not once during your representation have we had to worry or question your ability, directions, guidance or choice of experts or legal representation, which alleviates some of the worry and burden that litigation brings.

Sgt RLC, Military claims client.

(Wace Morgan Solicitors LLP) Very compassionate, caring and professional service. Very hard to improve on 100%. Good standard of service.

Do not hesitate to use Wolferstans as your solicitors. I have used them now on two occasions and they are quite simply the very best there is. Helpful, friendly, efficient but above all honest with you from start to finish. My most recent case was a triumph and that was down to their dedication and professional handling of the case. In short they saved me my future and I will be eternally grateful.

Mr Hall, Plymouth.

Contact us

We are able to offer legal advice on all matters, from civilian issues to courts martial, calling on our members wealth of experience, in every matter relating to forces life.

Contact Us