If you are arrested and taken to a police station because you have committed or are suspected of committing an offence or are attending the Police Station of your own free will you have the three basic rights:

• The right to consult with a solicitor, free of charge
  
• The right to have someone informed of your arrest
  
• The right to consult the Codes Of Practice (a book about police powers
  and procedures)

In addition to this if you are under the age of 16 the police will need to arrange for a appropriate adult to be with you whilst you are given these rights and interviewed. This person is different to a solicitor. An Appropriate Adult can be a family member, friend or occasionally a volunteer or social/health care professional or a member of the Youth Offending Service.

If you are under the age of 17 years you should be held in a detention room and NOT in a cell. Under no circumstances should you share a cell with an adult.

Find out what will happen after the interview

The most important thing to remember is offending whilst you are a young person can effect you for the rest of your life. It may mean you are unable to apply for certain jobs, it is no longer the case that criminal records are cleared at 18yrs. Information about this can be found in the Rehabilitation of offenders act or by speaking to your local Youth Offending Service or Connexions worker.