London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Lawyers refusing to attend police stations over coronavirus fears

Solicitors are refusing to attend police stations because of ‘cavalier’ attitudes towards coronavirus health safeguards.
A blistering attack on the police saw officers accused of ‘shocking’ behaviour.

Ian Kelcey, the co-chairman of the Law Society’s criminal law committee, has called on the Home Office to introduce a national protocol for custody suites where arrested people are detained and labelled police guidance as useful a ‘chocolate fireguard’.

He added that clarity was also needed in England and Wales’s magistrates’ courts, branding current arrangements a ‘muddle’. His comments came as some crown courts closed their doors today amid Covid-19 crisis.

In a statement on Monday, Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett announced no new jury trials should take place at crown courts and any ongoing cases should be paused for stringent safety measures to be put in place.

The Criminal Bar Association (CBA), which represents criminal barristers in England and Wales, said it would support members who choose not to attend court.

A senior lawyer who turned up at Maidstone but declined to be named said: ‘None of the judges turned up due to concerns about their own safety despite cases being listed for today.

‘Court now closed until further notice – you couldn’t script it.’

Mr Kelcey, a senior partner at Bristol-based criminal law firm Kelcey and Hall, said a joined-up approach was needed between police stations, courts and prisons.

He added: ‘Currently, with police stations, we take the view the police are taking a very lax attitude to all of this.

‘We had a client arrested, coughing, the police said he’s got some symptoms, and didn’t even refer him to a health care professional.

‘We said, “OK, we’re refusing to attend”, and the end result was the client was released, no further action.

‘In Kent, a colleague was on call over the weekend, someone was arrested, who thought he had Covid-19.

‘The police said, “No they haven’t, but tell you what, when you turn up we have masks and gloves for you”, then when he arrived the police were wearing full hazmat suits.

‘It is just shocking, the way police are behaving.’

He described National Police Chiefs’ Council guidance as ‘as much use as a chocolate fireguard’, adding different forces were using different protocols.

At least one force is reportedly asking solicitors to bring their own hand gel, gloves and masks, while at Staffordshire Police’s Cannock custody block, lawyers have been met at the doors by staff with hand sanitiser.

West Midlands Police has designated one of its four custody suites, Wolverhampton, to hold detainees suspected or confirmed to have Covid-19.

Mr Kelcey said police interviews could be done safely and remotely using conference call phones.

‘We can do interviews remotely, get disclosure, speak to the client and be present in interview by dialling in over the phone,’ he said.

‘It’s not rocket science – every force has a conference call phone.

‘The trouble with the police attitude is, “We’ve arrested someone, we’ve got a problem, and don’t want to keep them here”.

‘There’s a certain hypocrisy to all this.

‘There’s a very cavalier attitude and the police have been cavalier about the health of detainees, particularly mental health, for many years, in my experience.’

He said the profession should stand together and not attend police stations, adding that his firm and others in Bristol are refusing to go.

‘I think now we need a national protocol from the Home Office.’

He also described magistrates courts as ‘zoos’ in the current climate, adding that some courts have no soap.

The Ministry of Justice and the Police Federation have been approached for comment.

Simon Davis, Law Society president, said: ‘The courts have now directed that all matters that can be dealt with remotely must be.

‘There will only be extremely limited exceptions, where a matter is urgent and justice cannot be done without a face-to-face hearing.

‘In these limited circumstances, and so long as the court is taking all necessary measures to ensure good hygiene, appropriate distancing and following all other relevant guidance to minimise risk, it should be safe for our members to attend court.’

‘If appropriate hygiene and safety measures are not in place, it would be reasonable to decline to attend.’

A Home Office spokeswoman said: ‘We are working incredibly closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council who have sent guidance to all police forces on how to safely manage their custody suites.

‘This is an evolving situation and we keep guidance under constant review.’
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×