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Driving and Motoring Offences

Failing to Stop For Police

Failing to stop for the police is a serious charge to face, that could leave you at risk of receiving a range of penalties.

If you are being accused of failing to stop for the police, it is important to contact a specialist driving offences solicitor as soon as possible. Receiving expert advice from the beginning can have a substantial impact on the outcome of your case.

It is important to note that there are two separate offences related to failing to stop in the UK: failing to stop for police, which is an offence under S163 of the Road Traffic Act and the more severe offence of failing to stop after an accident. For more information about the second offence, please see failing to stop after an accident.

At JD Spicer Zeb, our specialist driving offence solicitors have many years of experience supporting individuals who have been accused of driving offences, including failing to stop for police.

Our extensive knowledge of the criminal justice system and cases involving driving offences help us provide the best possible defence for our clients.

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Why choose JD Spicer Zeb?

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Our primary focus will always be to help you avoid conviction. However, where this is not possible, we will work hard to mitigate any potential penalties you receive for failing to stop for the police, including securing a police caution or community resolution order.

Our highly experienced driving offence solicitors provide:

  • 24/7 legal support in person and over the phone, 365 days a year
  • Representation anywhere in England and Wales
  • Accredited Police Station Representatives to support you during a police interview
  • Clear, effective legal advice in any language (see our languages spoken)

Speak to our driving offence solicitors in London, Manchester and Birmingham today

For a free initial consultation on your legal position and the available options when defending a failure to stop for police charge, contact our local offices in LondonBirmingham or Manchester.

For urgent advice at any time of day or night regarding failure to stop for police, please call our Emergency Number 07836 577 556.

How can we help?

Common questions

We always work with the most experienced and best leading UK barristers, KCs (Kings Counsel). We cover all criminal cases 24/7 at the police station and court. Offices in London, Birmingham, and Manchester cover cases across England and Wales. We can offer Legal Aid and affordable Private fee agreements. We can see you the same day, including virtually. Our Senior Partners supervise all of our cases.

How quickly do you respond?

We respond quickly even during out of hours. We do not get our work by paying for online adverts but based on the fact that few criminal law firms can match our 45 years of experience. Most of our cases are still from word-of-mouth recommendations from satisfied clients. We are called daily by dissatisfied clients from firms with less experience than us. We respond very quickly to new enquiries. We know what clients seek and so we update clients rapidly.

Can you get cases dropped?

Yes, read about the recent cases we've helped our clients with here.

We always keep you updated and give straightforward advice. We will get cases dropped early where the case is weak or should not be prosecuted. We will be upfront with you about where you can benefit from a good result with an early guilty plea, such as a discount on your sentence. As we work on cases across all levels with clients from all walks of life, we are excellent at giving clear, spot-on advice. As an established firm, we can allocate a whole team to your case often at short notice to secure evidence to minimise the damage to you. 

Have you won any awards?

OUR PROFESSIONAL BODY THE LAW SOCIETY AWARDED US IN OCTOBER 2020 WITH THE EXCELLENCE IN CLIENT SERVICE AWARD AND STATED - 

"JD Spicer Zeb demonstrated a clear commitment to client service through their work with vulnerable and diverse individuals in what can be severely traumatic circumstances".

Do you offer free consultations?

Where it is possible, we aim to provide an initial consultation to you. If we can speak to you, we can if required inform you about  –

  • Whether we can take the case on and our relevant experience.
  • Public and private funding benefits.
  • Assistance in applying for legal aid where we are likely to accept instructions.
  • An outline of options in police interview only. We will not advise you on which option to adopt.
  • Providing our free written guide explaining the police station process.
  • The gravity of routine and day-to-day offences you face.
  • Consequences of not attending the court or police station.
  • Consequences of interfering with any witnesses.
  • Retaining any evidence in support of your case.
  • If possible an outline of the elements of the offence that the police or CPS must prove.
  • This consultation will normally be by telephone or email and will only be for as long as we deem necessary to establish if we can act for you. If we cannot usefully give you any advice in this manner then we will not continue with the consultation. We will not discuss the case in depth for you to be able to decide on your plea or any significant aspect of the case, as this cannot be undertaken informally.
  • Referring you, if possible, to other firms for matters out of our specialism or if we cannot help.

Consultations do not apply to the following cases –

  • If we do not intend to take the case on.
  • Road Traffic cases, drink driving, drug driving, driving bans, speeding, no insurance, mobile phone use, points etc.
  • In all cases where we do not have the capacity to take your case or the availability of suitably qualified staff to provide an initial free consultation. This is applicable in all cases but especially where a more senior lawyer is required because of your personal needs or the complexity of the case.
  • Harassment/stalking/ coercive behaviour/malicious communications or road traffic cases and most sensitive cases. These cases are often too complicated to assess in short consultations.
  • The locations concerned may be too distant to represent you adequately or it may not be cost-effective for you or us.
  • The case is too complicated to assess or raises various charges or facts, complexity, or history to be considered informally or in a short consultation.
  • In most Legal aid transfers where legal aid is granted to another firm except in very grave cases, we may assess the case and merits for a transfer.
  • If your relationship has broken down with your existing solicitor or several solicitors.
  • If you have been released under investigation and have already had a police station attendance. 
  • If you hold legal aid with another firm and seek a second opinion.
  • If you are calling on behalf of the client as a friend or family member unless you have full authority and full facts.
  • To businesses.
  • Advising whether you were given good advice by your other solicitor.
  • Whether to decide to plead guilty or not guilty.
  • Whether you have an arguable defence in law or factually complicated defences.
  • Any advice you have had after your first court appearance.
  • Any advice on appeal on conviction or sentence.
  • If we feel we are unable to communicate with you.
  • If we are likely to be conflicted or breach our professional rules.

Why choose our driving offence solicitors?

For more than 45 years, our expert driving offence solicitors have been delivering specialist legal support across a wide range of cases, including those involving failure to stop for police.

Failing to stop for police is a serious offence, with penalties including an unlimited fine. The court cannot give you penalty points, but this offence could affect your insurance premium. This makes it crucial to obtain tailored legal advice as early as possible.

Our team includes dedicated police station representatives available 24/7 to assist if you are arrested on suspicion of a driving offence. We have many years of experience examining prosecution evidence and in developing a strong defence to protect your interests.

With connections to some of the UK’s top criminal defence barristers, we will ensure exceptional legal representation if your case proceeds to trial.

Our expertise in handling criminal and driving-related cases is reflected by our Law Society accreditation for Criminal Litigation and our Lexcel accreditation, showing our commitment to excellence in legal practice.

Our expertise with failure to stop for police charges

Representation at police stations

Anything you say or do during questioning at the police station can have a significant impact on your case and may be used as evidence in court. 

This is why it is important to have specialist solicitors on hand to support you at the station and advise you on your rights. 

Our experienced team of police station representatives and solicitors have a track record of successfully supporting clients at this important stage. 

We offer quick and effective legal advice and representation to safeguard your interests and ensure you are fully informed throughout the proceedings.

Pre-charge bail and released under investigation

Whether you have been released on pre-charge bail or remain under investigation, expert legal advice is crucial for understanding your situation and how your case is likely to progress.

Being released from police custody does not remove the possibility of being charged at a later stage, making it crucial to be prepared. 

Pre-charge bail often comes with conditions, such as restrictions on your movements or mandatory visits to the police station at specified times.

Our driving offence solicitors will review your case in detail and provide tailored advice and guidance to help you manage your bail conditions. We will be on hand to navigate police investigations and ensure you are in the strongest possible position.

To find out more in relation to pre-charge bail and being released under investigation, please use the links provided below:

Having charges dropped

If you are facing charges, it may be possible to get them dismissed entirely before your case reaches court. Having a skilled team of expert criminal defence solicitors on your side will give you the best possible chance of this occurring, however.

Our driving offence solicitors will review the details of your case and establish if there are any weaknesses; from there, we will build a strong defence on your behalf to improve your legal position and the final outcome.

Legal representation and defence

Facing court proceedings for failing to stop for the police is likely to be a worrying and stressful time. 

Our solicitors are available to provide compassionate and practical support throughout. We will address your concerns, guide you through the process, and build the strongest defence for your case.

Whether your charges are heard in a Magistrates’ Court or the Crown Court, our team is dedicated to delivering exceptional representation at every stage. 

We will thoroughly prepare your defence, including obtaining expert reports when necessary, drawing on years of experience in achieving positive outcomes for our clients.

Our established relationships with some of the UK’s most respected criminal defence barristers ensure that, should your case proceed to trial, you’ll receive high-quality legal advice and advocacy. 

We will keep you fully informed about your case and provide honest advice on whether an early guilty plea might be in your best interests to reduce the penalty you receive.

Fees and funding

We are committed to being transparent and straightforward about your options regarding fees and funding.

Legal Aid may be available in certain situations, depending on the severity of the case and whether you qualify for public funding.

For more information on how we manage fees, including Legal Aid and private fees, please refer to the links below:

Related offences

We also provide support and guidance on various other matters that are related to failure to stop for police, including:

Common questions about failure to stop

What happens if you fail to stop for police in the UK?

According to the sentencing guidelines, the maximum penalty for failing to stop for the police in the UK is an unlimited fine. The court cannot impose penalty points for this offence, but the charge may still impact your insurance premiums.

It’s important to note that if you fail to stop for the police, this may also coincide with more serious charges, such as dangerous driving, driving without due care and attention, or speeding.

What constitutes a "failure to stop" offence?

This offence occurs when:

(1) A person driving a motor vehicle on a road must stop the vehicle on being required to do so by a constable in uniform.

(2) A person riding a cycle on a road must stop the cycle on being required to do so by a constable in uniform.

(3) If a person fails to comply with this section he is guilty of an offence.

Should I have legal representation at the police interview?

Yes, we would always advise you to receive legal advice from a solicitor before a police interview, and the interview should be carried out in the presence of your solicitor.

We can advise you on the best ways to respond to police questions, whether by stating no comment, providing a prepared statement, or answering the questions directly.

Anything you say or do during the interview can impact your case, which makes expert legal guidance invaluable.

Should I stop for an unmarked police car?

Yes, you should stop for an unmarked police car. If one or more of the officers are wearing police uniforms, it is against the law not to stop.

However, if you feel vulnerable and are unsure if the unmarked police car is the police, you can drive to the nearest public place (such as a service station or police station) and then stop.

If the police take action for you failing to stop, a court would ultimately decide whether you had committed an offence.

What happens if I was not driving the vehicle at the time of the offence?

If you own the vehicle involved but were not driving it, the police may contact you to clarify who was driving at the time of the offence.

Under UK law, the owner of a vehicle is required to provide information about the identity of the driver when asked by the police.

Failing to provide such information can result in a fine or more severe penalties.

Contact our driving offence solicitors now

If you are due to attend the police station for interview, have been accused of failure to stop for police, or require any urgent specialist advice or immediate representation, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

You can contact a member of our dedicated team of driving offence solicitors in London, Birmingham, and Manchester by telephone on:

Or email: solicitors@jdspicer.co.uk

Alternatively, you can fill out our quick online enquiry form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

24/7 legal representation for failure to stop for police

Please contact us for a free initial consultation with one of our driving offence lawyers for immediate advice and representation.

For urgent representation and advice, you can contact our Emergency Number: 07836 577 556 and we will provide you with the assistance you need.

How can we help?

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