Released under investigation - the basics

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If you have been released under investigation, you were arrested and interviewed by the police and then released.  The police have not made a final decision as to whether to charge you with an offence, take no further action, offer you a caution or some other disposal.  They have decided or have been advised that they need to make further enquiries in your case and will continue to investigate matters.  Accordingly, you have been released under investigation whilst those enquiries are carried out. You should instruct expert criminal solicitors.

Being released under investigation is not really new. Criminal solicitors will advise you that the process of releasing people under investigation has been in place since April 2017.   Prior to April 2017, where the police had to make enquiries before a decision could be made, suspects would be released on  bail.  This would involve going back to the police station at a specific time.  This led to the concept of Re-Bails, where suspects were bailed and re-bailed and sometimes this could go on for years.

Most people agree that the old system of bail to return was not great but the current system isn't that great either.   Being released under investigation has still lead to very lengthy delays whilst police investigations continue and is often a very stressful time. With no date to work towards to, can feel like nothing is happening.  Call us at our East Ham or Finchley office for further advice.

The police will probably not keep you informed of the progress of the investigation when you have been released under investigation.  As expert Criminal Solicitors, our experience shows that the police will not voluntarily provide updates on the state of their enquiries.  Your solicitor should be able to obtain information and keep you informed.  Whether in East Ham, Barnet or any where in London, we can help.

No.  Any good firm of criminal solicitors will advise you that the police cannot impose conditions on you whilst you are released under investigation.  You should be aware that if the police wish to impose conditions, they can still bail you to return to the police station and if they do this, then they can impose bail conditions as you will be on police bail.

The current trend is for police to initially bail you following arrest to return to the police station and impose conditions.  They can switch from being on police bail to releasing you under investigation.  You should be aware that once you status has been changed to released under investigation, the bail conditions no longer apply. 

Yes.  The police can change you from being on police bail to being released under investigation at any time. 

Since the RUI procedure was introduced, the police can only bail you for 28 days (subject to other things see our Police Bail page).

If you were subject to bail conditions whilst you were on police bail, these will no longer apply.  If you were required to surrender your passport whilst released on police bail, you can request your passport be returned if you are now released under investigation. A god firm of criminal solicitors is essential.

Whilst you are released under investigation, there is no restriction on your freedom and you can freely travel.  If you are thinking of travelling, it would be wise to let your criminal solicitors know so that they can keep you informed of any developments in your case.   We have offices in East Ham and Finchley, London 

Sadly, the police have no time limit on when they must conclude an investigation.  The fact is that the time taken will be depend on so many things, not least the work load of the police officers involved. Criminal solicitors will advise you that those released under investigation can be held in this state for a long time.  We have offices in East Ham and Finchley in London, but provide a national service.

This depends on your point of view and the nature of the allegations that you face.  In some instances, it may be appropriate to simply forget about it and await the outcome whilst you are released under investigation.  On the other hand, you may decide that it is important for you to get ahead of the process and start preparing your "defence" early whilst you are under investigation. Criminal solicitors will advise that this might be important where evidence might be lost with the passage of time.  In this situation, it might be best to let us handle this part to avoid any suggestions of interfering with evidence. We provide a nationwide service, our head office is in East Ham, London.

Contact us in London for advice on being released under investigation , so that we can help you.  

In the first instance we need to make an assessment of the allegations against you.  From there, we can determine what action needs to be taken and when, whilst you are released under investigation.  The advice of good criminal solicitors in London, East Ham, Finchley and nationally is essential.

Much will depend on whether the items they have taken will or may for evidence in your case.  Speak with us - expert criminal solicitors about this and being released under investigation.