What to Do If You’re Caught with Drugs
In the UK, it’s illegal to be in possession of illegal drugs, so you could end up in serious trouble if you’re caught with them. There are a range of illegal substances that can get you in problems, but if you’re caught, what should you expect?
In some cases, you’ll be given a warning if it’s your first offence. This is entirely at the discretion of the police informant and you’ll be required to do drug counselling and visit a drug treatment centre. However, it’s more likely that you’ll be going to court, which means you’ll need a lawyer.
You should never talk to the police without legal counsel. If you have drugs on your person or in your home or property and you’re aware of them, you can be charged with possession of an illegal drug. However, if you’re charged with possession, you may also be charged with use of these drugs.
If you have more than a small amount of drugs, you may also be charged with ‘intent to supply,’ which is even more serious. This is why you need to have a lawyer with you before you say anything.
Once you go to court, your prosecutor must prove that you are the offender and that you committed an offense at a specific time and place. They also have to prove that you possessed an illegal drug at the time. They’ll try to present evidence that you did commit a crime in order to have you sentenced.
In this situation, you have a few choices to make and your lawyer will help you to determine which is best. You can plead guilty or not guilty, or you can admit to the charges and request diversion. The diversion program is generally used for minor cases and will require a certain number of conditions, but it doesn’t give you a criminal record.
In any case, your lawyer will be there to help you and guide you through the process. If diversion is possible, then they’ll recommend it for you, but otherwise, they’ll aim to try and get you the lowest possible penalty. This may be a fine or jail time. Sometimes you’ll be placed on an ‘undertaking’ and given conditions that you must fulfil in order to complete your sentence.
Your past will have a big impact on what happens in court, so be sure to tell your lawyer everything. They’ll need to know if there’s anything too serious in your past, such as a drug addiction or a criminal history. Only then can they help you completely.
Are you in need of a lawyer to help with a drug charge? Contact us today for more information as to how we can help.
