Sarju Patel - Criminal Defence Specialist - Right To Remain Silent

🚨 Henry Nowak was 18 years old. The killer has been convicted. The police watchdog investigation is ongoing. What’s your view on the officers’ actions? 👇

A 26-year-old British Asian software engineer was arrested at his parents’ home and locked in a police cell for nearly 10 hours after a facial recognition system wrongly identified him as a burglary suspect from 100 miles away.

When officers later reviewed the CCTV properly, it became clear the suspect looked nothing like him.

This is exactly why there needs to be serious discussion around live facial recognition technology.

Most people agree that technology can help policing, locate dangerous offenders and even help find missing persons. But what happens when the system gets it wrong?

Because when it gets it wrong, the consequences are real:
• You can be handcuffed
• Arrested
• Taken into custody
• Have your reputation damaged
• Experience stress, embarrassment and trauma — despite being innocent

The issue is not whether technology should exist. The issue is whether there are proper safeguards, human checks, transparency and accountability before someone loses their liberty.

Rights and protections are not just for guilty people. They are there to protect innocent people from mistakes too.

Technology should assist policing — not replace proper investigation and common sense.

What are your thoughts on live facial recognition being used in public spaces?

People love saying criminal defence lawyers “just want money” or “want the case to go to court.”

Reality? One of the core principles under the Solicitors Regulation Authority Standards and Regulations is:

⚖️ Principle 7 — act in the best interests of each client.

Most of my best outcomes are:
✅ NFA
✅ No charge
✅ No court case
✅ No criminal record

Which usually means LESS money because the case ends early.

The real work often happens at the police station long before anyone steps inside a courtroom.

Did you know in the UK you don’t actually have a right to a phone call? You actually have the right to have someone informed.

I represented a client in police interview.

We answered questions.
We advanced a defence.
He denied the offence.

Later, I chased police for an update…

Only to be told my client was booked in to accept a CAUTION.

STOP THERE. 🚨

Hang on officer…

A caution for WHAT exactly?

Because for a caution to be lawful, there must be a clear admission of the offence.

That had NOT happened.

The officer was adamant my client had “made admissions” in interview.

I pushed back immediately.

No he didn’t.

Answering questions is NOT the same as admitting an offence.

Advancing a defence is NOT an admission.

We refused the caution.

Police response?

“Fine — we’ll send it to CPS and look at charging.”

So I made formal representations:
⚖️ Challenged the legal test
⚖️ Challenged the interpretation of the interview
⚖️ Challenged the stalking classification
⚖️ Challenged the bail extension
⚖️ Sent detailed pre-charge reps to CPS

Final result?

✅ NO FURTHER ACTION.

Moral of the story:
Never let anyone pressure you into accepting a caution without proper legal advice.

Because once you accept it…
you’re admitting the offence.

AKON

Charged with Attempt murder - basis of plea for S18 accepted.

It’s not always about getting people off. It can be about damage limitation too…

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNRpWKMYh/

Watch the full video below…. This could be anyone in this situation. Don’t think it won’t happen to you, because it can!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DX1wilCN8U5/?igsh=MmdhYjJhMHdsaDY3

Arrested for arson… then treated as a murder suspect within hours.

4 days later — No Further Action.

No evidence linking him to the fire.
The only thing? He was in the same building.

He lost a friend that night.
He’s now homeless and dealing with the aftermath of being suspected of murder.

This is what people don’t realise…

You don’t have to do anything wrong to become a suspect.
Sometimes it’s just being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

This isn’t about criticising the police they have a job to do, and the victim’s family deserve justice.

But it shows how quickly your life can change…and why getting the right legal advice early matters.

Because this could be you.