Pre-charge Advice

In most circumstances, if you have been asked to attend voluntarily, you are not legally required to participate in Victoria. If you have been arrested, you retain the right to silence under Victorian law, though in some contexts specific obligations may still apply. Before agreeing to any interview – voluntary or otherwise – you should speak with a criminal lawyer who can advise you on your specific situation.

A record of interview (ROI) is a formal, recorded question-and-answer session between police and a person under investigation. Subject to admissibility rules, its contents may be used as evidence in subsequent Victorian court proceedings. Because participation carries significant legal risk, the decision about whether – and how – to engage must be made only after obtaining proper legal advice.

In some circumstances, early legal intervention may assist. By engaging with investigators at the pre-charge stage, understanding the direction of the case, and exploring alternative pathways, a lawyer can sometimes assist in changing the outcome – though this depends entirely on the specific facts and is not guaranteed. It is a possibility that is simply not available to those who wait – but it is never a guaranteed outcome, and the right approach depends entirely on the specific facts of your matter.

Potentially, yes. For professionals regulated by bodies such as AHPRA, or those subject to a Working with Children Check under the Worker Screening Act 2020 (Vic), certain charges may trigger notification obligations or regulatory consequences depending on the offence type, profession, and applicable statutory threshold. Not every charge triggers a consequence, and this can include interim conditions on registration rather than automatic suspension. Engaging a lawyer early allows you to understand those risks and take steps to manage them.

Immediately – and before responding to any police request. Police investigations move quickly, and the pre-charge window is finite. Slades & Parsons has a 24-hour emergency advice line for exactly these situations. Call (03) 9602 3000 as soon as police make contact, and before you agree to anything.