‘Arrested’ leaflet helps you know your rights

What do I do if I am arrested?

Centre for Justice is today releasing a 16-page leaflet on the rights of an individual who comes into contact with Bermuda’s “law and order” system. The leaflet is titled “What do I do If I am arrested?”.

“This is to assist anyone who finds themselves in police custody without a lawyer,” says Venous Memari, Managing Director of Centre for Justice. “Our role is to help people to understand Bermuda’s laws, and consequently their rights under those laws.

“If you have never been arrested, or taken to a police station, or been in court – or even been stopped and searched on the street – it’s intimidating. Knowing the rules should help. Ideally, you would have a lawyer to guide you through this new territory, but if you don’t then there are things you should know.”

The “Arrested” leaflet starts by focusing on such topics as: talking to the police, being stopped and searched, and being arrested. It guides the reader through their rights in custody, participation in an identification procedure and how to get free legal advice.

Says Venous Memari: “We’re not trying to take the place of a lawyer, and this is not legal advice. What we’ve aimed to do is demonstrate for individuals how the system works for them – not against them. I want to make it clear that this is in no way intended to undermine procedures that protect us all. Centre for Justice exists to protect the rule of law.”

The leaflets are available for downloading from Centre for Justice’s website. In addition, hard copies are available at their office in The Armoury Building on Reid Street, Hamilton, all police stations, the Legal Aid Office, the Human Rights Commission, the Office of the Ombudsman as well as other community organisations.

Link to leaflet http://www.justice.bm/publications-resources/criminal-justice

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