Sutton regularly records one of the lowest crime rates in London, which means that for most residents the criminal law arrives through the windscreen. Speeding on the A217 and the A232, a positive breath test after a Christmas drink in Cheam, a phone in the hand at the lights: these are the cases that bring otherwise law-abiding people to criminal law solicitors in Sutton, and they matter because a licence lost means a job lost for many commuters and carers. Totting-up and exceptional hardship arguments, special reasons and the drink-drive rehabilitation course are everyday work.
The rest of the caseload is what any outer borough produces: shoplifting in the High Street and the retail parks, domestic abuse, drug possession and supply, assaults outside pubs, fraud and the occasional serious case that goes to Croydon Crown Court. Young people appear in the youth court, and a solicitor who understands diversion and out-of-court disposals can keep a first mistake off a record.
Everything begins at the police station, where advice is free whatever the suspect's income, for an arrest or a voluntary interview alike. Sutton's own cases are heard by magistrates in Croydon or Wimbledon, so defence solicitors here are used to the journey, and the Crown Court for the borough is Croydon.
Legal aid in the magistrates' court depends on income and the seriousness of the charge; in the Crown Court it is granted more widely but may come with contributions. Motoring cases are commonly handled for a fixed fee, and private clients should ask for a staged estimate.
Criminal defence solicitors serving Sutton are listed below, verified firms first. The articles on what criminal law involves and free legal help explain the basics, the criminal law solicitors page covers the service generally, and firms beside the courts appear under criminal law solicitors in Croydon.
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