Criminal matters
Police complaints, investigations, trials and connected court proceedings. The first step is to understand the facts, the relevant documents and the stage your matter has reached.
Matters within this area
- Complaint and investigation matters
- Trial preparation and representation
- Appeals and post-order questions
What to bring
Bring the complete papers, including attachments and previous responses. Useful starting documents can include the following.
- FIR, complaint or police notice
- Existing court papers and orders
- A factual chronology and relevant records
Questions before we speak
How do I arrange a conversation?
Call or email the office with your preferred time and a brief description of the subject. Arrange the discussion before sending sensitive documents.
Can you assess the likely result from a short message?
A meaningful assessment depends on the facts, complete documents, applicable law and procedural stage. A short message is a starting point for arranging that review.
Guides for this area
Browse all 40 guidesPreparing a police complaint — preserving a clear factual record
Describe what happened, when, where and who was involved, separating direct knowledge from information received from others. Preserve original supporting material.
CriminalBNSS, CrPC and the date of a criminal case
The offence date and procedural history answer different questions. Do not mechanically replace old section numbers with new ones in an existing case.
CriminalA police complaint, an FIR and a court complaint
These terms describe different legal steps. A complaint submitted to police is not automatically the same document or proceeding as an FIR or a Magistrate's…
CriminalReporting a cognizable offence outside the incident’s police area
BNSS section 173 permits information about a cognizable offence irrespective of the area where it occurred. Accurate incident details still remain important.
CriminalElectronic information to police under BNSS section 173
Electronic communication is recognised, but the statute includes a signature step within three days for information given in that form. Sending an email alone…
CriminalNon-cognizable information and the next procedural step
A non-cognizable entry is different from an FIR in a cognizable case. The statutory investigation process and court's role should be checked before drawing…