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Voluntary interview
- Custody
An interview with a suspect who attends voluntarily and is not under arrest. The person is free to leave at any time and is not subject to the full custody regime, but the caution must still be administered, the interview must be recorded if it takes place at a police station, and the person has the right to legal advice. Voluntary interviews are conducted under PACE Code C.
In practice
Voluntary interviews are increasingly used as an alternative to arrest where the suspect is cooperative and there is no necessity for arrest. They can take place at a police station or elsewhere. The person must be told that they are not under arrest and are free to leave. If a constable forms a view during the interview that arrest is necessary, they may arrest the person at that point.
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Last updated 24 September 2026