All clusters
Criminal Law
Police, Crime and Victims
Arrest rights, bail, court process, victim routes, criminal injuries compensation, and police complaints.
Overview
Criminal justice is a vast field — this cluster covers the most commonly searched routes: arrest and police interview rights, bail decisions, trial process (Magistrates' / Crown), appeal routes, victim reporting and the Victims' Code, and the police complaints route via PSD and the IOPC.
Pillars
Arrest rights (PACE)
Police interview & voluntary attendance
Bail decisions & appeals
Magistrates' Court trial
Crown Court trial (jury)
Appeal routes
Victims' Code & VRR
Criminal injuries compensation
Police complaints (PSD → IOPC)
Restraining orders
Topic hubs
Journeys
Routes
Templates
Tools
Forums
Law updates
When to get advice
At a police station: ALWAYS use the free duty solicitor — no means test for that. For trial defence, Crown Court legal aid is widely available (subject to means/merits). Victims should ask about the Witness Service and Victim Support.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-22. This is legal information, not legal advice.