What do I do if I am charged

If you have been arrested
Don't say anything. In most cases you have a right to silence and a right to call a lawyer to represent you.

If you have been arrested and are being held at a Police Station or if the Police have requested that you attend a Police Station for an interview call me first on (02) 9957 4199 or 0400 44 6424 for legal advice.

We can:

• Attend the Police Station with you to vigorously assert your rights and to give you advice about your options; and
• Advise you whether you should take part in an interview with Police (you usually have the right to decline to take part in an interview).

If you have been charged with a criminal offence
We can advise you about any defences that may be available to you, negotiate with the Police on your behalf, and represent you in Court. Some of the offences we defend in Court on a regular basis are below:

• All Driving and Traffic offences, including Drink Driving, Drug Driving Drive Whilst Disqualified/Unlicensed/Suspended, Negligent Driving and License Appeals, habitual traffic offender declarations
• Common assaults, Actual Bodily Harm, Grevious Bodily Harm and Apprehended Violence Orders (AVOs)
• Public order offences, such as resisting arrest and offensive conduct
• Damage to Property
• Larceny (eg shop lifting), Break Enter and Steal and other property offences
• Drug offences - Possession, Supply and manufacture
• Confiscation of Proceeds of Crime
• Complex fraud prosecutions by the NSW Police, Australian Taxation Office
  (ATO), Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
• Offences against the Australian tax and corporations laws
• Breaches of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act and breach of Tree Preservations orders
• Prosecutions by the Australian Federal Police in respect to Aviation security
• Children's Court proceedings
• Sexual Assault
• Prosecutions by the RSPCA
• Applications under the Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act 1990
• Magistrate's Mental Health Enquiries
• Firearms and prohibited weapons offences

If you have been charged with a criminal offence, or are seeking further information on a criminal law matter, call me, William Vahl, Criminal Defence Lawyer, North Shore Criminal Law on (02) 9957 4199 or after hours on 0400 44 64 24.