Why you should never talk to the police.

[Peter Presland]

These are the 37 words of the UK police caution.

You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.

For the caution to be considered in effect - ie for the police to claim in court that you were questioned under caution - it must be followed by the question "Do you understand?" to which you must have replied in the affirmative.

The best and only response to the question in the absence of a non-police witness, preferably your own solicitor, being present and taking notes is "No"

Then say absolutely nothing else except, "I repeat, I do not understand the caution" and to stay totally silent, except for occasionally repeating the above, in reponse to any and every other question.

Here is a reasonable exposition of the pitfalls from April 2006 Times