Should you tell the police the truth?

As a general rule, you aren’t under any obligation to speak with the police. However, if you choose to talk to investigators, it’s never a good idea to lie. By lying to the police, you could be charged with one or more crimes of your own.

Should you talk to the police if you’re innocent?

No and no. You should never talk to the police without first consulting an attorney. Police officers are trained to obtain confessions, admissions and inconsistencies. If you are innocent, they will use inconsistencies in your statements as evidence of guilt.

What happens if you lie to the police?

If you’ve been accused of lying to the police, you may face misdemeanor or felony charges. The best thing to do is to request an attorney and then remain silent.

Can I be a police officer with a criminal record?

Over the last few years, the rules regarding eligibility to become a police officer have been slightly relaxed. However, there are still strict entry requirements and some convictions/caution will result in your application being immediately rejected whilst others will be considered on a case by case basis.

Can a police officer lie in order to solve a crime?

In fact, lying in order to solve a crime is an integral part of police training and procedure. On the other hand, here are the things you should never say to a police officer. Not all lies by police officers are permissible, however.

Are police officers supposed to be your friends?

The job of a police officer is to enforce the law—not to be your friend. However, police officers are trained to use friendliness to elicit information. By engaging you in friendly chit-chat, a police officer can ascertain information not only about you but also about your community.

Do police officers have to tell you why they are questioning you?

Police officers are under no obligation to tell you why they’re questioning you. Nor do they have an obligation to tell you they suspect you of something. Sure, you can ask, “what’s this all about, officer,” but they don’t have to tell you unless and until you’re actually being arrested.

Can you still be charged if the police let you go?

Yes, if the police let you go you can still be charged later. But how common is that? It depends on the nature of the charge. With a speeding ticket like the example above, it is fairly unlikely.