When Someone You Know Is Arrested (England & Wales): 12 questions answered
If someone you know is arrested in England or Wales, police can usually hold them for up to 24 hours before charging or releasing them. They have the right to free legal advice and to have someone told where they are. Here is what family and friends can do, from the police station to court and remand.
Law checked as at 25 September 2026. Legal information only, not legal advice. See how we check this page and recent changes.
How do I find out which police station someone is being held at?
Often the quickest way is to wait for the person, the police or a solicitor to contact you. You can also call the police on 101. Under PACE Code C, if a relative or friend asks where someone is, police should tell them, but only if the detained person agrees and there is no investigative reason to withhold it. So police may confirm very little at first. A solicitor acting for the person can usually find out where they are. If anyone is in danger, call 999.
Do the police have to tell me if my partner or relative has been arrested?
Not unless the arrested person asks them to, or the person is under 18. Under section 56 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE), an arrested adult can have one friend, relative or other person told that they have been arrested and where they are held, as soon as practicable. For an indictable offence, an inspector can delay this in limited situations, such as a risk to evidence or of alerting other suspects, but never beyond 36 hours. An adult can choose not to have anyone told.
Can I get a solicitor for someone who has been arrested, and is it free?
Yes, you can contact a criminal defence solicitor and ask them to help, but the arrested person decides whether to see them. Under PACE Code C, if a solicitor arrives to see someone, police must tell the detained person and ask whether they want to see the solicitor. Legal advice at the police station is free for everyone, whatever their income, and the person can simply ask for the duty solicitor. Many criminal defence firms give this advice under legal aid, so ask about this before agreeing to pay anything.
Can I visit or speak to someone in a police cell?
There is no right to visit someone held in police custody in England and Wales. Under PACE Code C, a detained person who agrees may receive visits from family or friends, but only at the custody officer's discretion, and a visit can be refused if there are not enough staff to supervise it or it could hinder the investigation. The detained person can usually ask to make one phone call, though this can be delayed in serious cases. Police can listen to calls, except calls with a solicitor.
Can I take medication, clothes or food to the police station?
You can offer, but the custody officer decides what is accepted. If the person needs regular medication, tell custody staff as soon as possible. Under PACE Code C, the custody officer must consult a healthcare professional before any prescribed medication is used, and must make sure the person can take approved medication. Police must offer at least two light meals and one main meal in every 24 hours, and replacement clothing if clothes are taken. Food supplied by family is allowed only at the custody officer's discretion and at your expense.
How long can police keep someone before charging or releasing them?
Usually up to 24 hours from arrival at the police station. For an indictable offence, meaning one that can be tried in the Crown Court, a superintendent can extend this to 36 hours, and a magistrates' court can authorise further detention up to a maximum of 96 hours. Terrorism and national security arrests can allow up to 14 days with court approval. By the end of the limit, police must charge the person or release them, either on bail, under investigation without bail, or with no further action.
What happens if they are charged and kept in custody for court?
If police charge someone and refuse bail, section 46 of PACE says they must be brought before a magistrates' court as soon as practicable, and no later than the first sitting after they are charged. In practice this is usually the next day the court sits, and in many areas courts also sit on Saturdays and bank holidays for this purpose. Adult hearings are normally open to the public, so you can usually attend. The court decides whether to grant bail or remand the person in custody. A duty solicitor is available at court.
What does it mean to stand surety for someone's bail?
A surety is someone who promises the court they will pay a set sum of money if the defendant fails to turn up at court. Under the Bail Act 1976, the court considers a proposed surety's finances, character, previous convictions and relationship to the defendant. Nothing is usually paid up front, but if the defendant absconds the court can order the surety to pay some or all of the sum. A security is different: money or valuables deposited with the court in advance. It is a criminal offence for anyone, including the defendant, to agree to repay a surety.
What does being remanded in custody mean, and how do I visit?
It means the court has refused bail, so the person is held in prison, or youth detention accommodation if under 18, until a later hearing or trial. They are still presumed innocent. GOV.UK says remand prisoners are allowed three one-hour visits a week. The prisoner must first add you to their visitor list, which can take up to 2 weeks, then you book through the GOV.UK prison visits service. If you do not know which prison they are in, ask their solicitor or use GOV.UK's find a prisoner service, which needs the prisoner's consent.
What happens if the person arrested is under 18?
Police must tell a parent, guardian or carer as soon as practicable that the child has been arrested, why, and where they are held, and must arrange an appropriate adult. Under PACE Code C, an appropriate adult, such as a parent, carer, social worker or trained volunteer, supports the child and should be present when they are told their rights, interviewed or charged. An appropriate adult is not a lawyer, but can ask for legal advice for the child even if the child does not want it. A charged child refused bail should normally be moved to local authority accommodation.
Should I tell their employer, and what should I avoid doing?
Whether to tell an employer is usually the arrested person's decision. There is generally no legal duty to report an arrest to an employer, although some contracts, jobs and professions have their own reporting rules. If they are held and will miss work, you could, with their agreement, simply say they cannot attend. Avoid discussing the case on the phone or in messages, as police and prison calls can be listened to. Do not post about it online or contact witnesses or the alleged victim, as this can cause serious legal problems.
Where can families get support when someone is arrested or remanded?
The Prisoners' Families Helpline offers free, confidential advice to families in England and Wales who have a loved one in contact with the criminal justice system, from arrest through to release. Call 0808 808 2003. It is open 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 3pm at weekends and on bank holidays. It is run by the Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) under contract to HM Prison and Probation Service. Many prisons also have family services teams and visitors' centres. For questions about the case itself, speak to the person's solicitor.
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Step-by-step help for family and friends in the app →Official sources
Primary sources and official guidance on this topic, for anyone who wants to read the underlying rules directly.
- PACE Code C 2023: detention, treatment and questioning (GOV.UK)
- Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, section 56 (right to have someone informed)
- Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, section 46 (detention after charge)
- Bail Act 1976, section 8 (bail with sureties)
- Staying in touch with someone in prison: visiting (GOV.UK)
- Support for families and friends of prisoners (GOV.UK)
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