What protections do I have?

There are a number of rights that young people have if they are arrested or detained by the police.

You must be told immediately that you have the right to speak to a lawyer and to hire a lawyer to help you. This right belongs to you personally; you do not need to use it through your parents or legal guardians.
You have the right to retain and instruct a lawyer at any stage of the legal proceedings against you.
The police must also tell you that you have the right to talk to your parents or other adult and this right is separate from your right to have the help of a lawyer.
The police must tell you about the availability of legal aid, free preliminary legal advice or the availability of duty counsel to help you.
You must be told that you have the right to change your mind, so that if you have given a statement to the police without lawyer, parent or other adult present, you may decide that you would now like to have one of these people present.

All of this information must be given to you in a language and in a manner that you can understand.

January 2004

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