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How can you discharge a Sexual Offences Protection Order (SOPO)? LocalSolicitors.com

How can you discharge a SOPO? 

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Events that come under the heading 'Benefit Fraud' can be charged by the Crown Prosecution Service as a number of different offences both under the Social Security Administration Act, the Theft Act and the Fraud Act. It is very important that you obtain advice as the ingredients the Crown need to prove for the different offences are not the same. If the offence is one that requires that the Crown need to establish that you acted dishonestly, from the limited information you provide, it is possible that you have a defence. It is very likely that you will be entitled to legal aid and you should find a local solicitor who has a Legal Aid Agency crime contract and obtain specific advice on the particular charges that you face and the circumstances that led to your prosecution. There are sentencing guidelines for these offences and these consider a number of variables that will depend on the detail of your particular case. For the level of overpayment that you suggest, the sentence, if convicted, could range from a Community Order to Imprisonment, so it is very important that you obtain .representation.

I've been called to magistrates court for benefit fraud. What can I expect?

If you are arrested, you have the right to free legal advice from a solicitor whilst being questioned at a police station. This offer remains even if you initially decline the attention of a solicitor and you are within your rights to change your mind.

The police are obliged to inform you of your right to legal advice at the time of arrest as well as prior to questioning you at the police station. Once you have requested legal advice, the police are unauthorised to question you until you have received the counsel of a solicitor. You can obtain the advice in one of three ways:

 * Request that the police contact a specific solicitor (if you have a family solicitor for example)
 * Request the police station duty solicitor who is independent from the police and available 24 hours a day
 * Request legal advice from the Defence Solicitor Call Centre (DSCC) who will be contacted by the police on your behalf.

The police are authorised to make you wait for legal advice in serious cases, though this must be approved by a senior officer in order for it to be legal. The longest delay that a person can receive prior to accessing legal advice is 36 hours, unless the crime is suspected terrorism in which case, the delay can be up to 48 hours.

Am I entitled to a solicitor if I am arrested?

How can you discharge a SOPO?

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