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Drug Offences

If you are being investigated or prosecuted for a drug offence, such as possession of drugs, supply, production or drug driving, do not leave things to chance. Drug crime is treated extremely seriously and conviction could result in harsh penalties, including a long prison sentence.

As one of the top criminal defence firms in the North West of England, you can trust our drug offence solicitors to provide the help you need.

With the right advice, you have the best possible chance of getting the outcome you want, such as:

Having any investigation or charges against you dropped.
Receiving a ‘not guilty’ verdict at court.
Receiving a reduced sentence and less serious penalties (e.g. getting a possession with intent to supply charge reduced to possession).

Our criminal lawyers are in the top 10 firms nationally, based on client feedback at Review Solicitors.

We can help you at the police station and at court. We can travel at short notice to advise you, no matter where you are, no matter what time it is.

If you are looking for advice for someone you know, such as a partner who has been arrested for a drug offence and needs immediate police station representation, we are also more than happy to help.

If costs are a worry for you, we take many of our clients on a Legal Aid basis. We can provide advice about whether you can get Legal Aid.

Get in touch with our drug crime defence solicitors

If you or someone you know needs fast, expert criminal law advice and defence at the police station, during investigation or at court, get in touch with our drug offence solicitors in Liverpool, Runcorn or Warrington.

Call 03444 124348 | Ask us a Question

For urgent out of hours matters call FREEPHONE 0808 196 1790

We can travel across the country to assist people at the police station or at court. Our lawyers are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Our police station representation service is free of charge. It is your legal right to have representation at the police station.

We advise that you do not answer the police’s questions until we are by your side to help you – just tell the police you want to talk to your solicitor at Bell Lamb & Joynson.

This includes if you have been invited for a voluntary interview under caution – these interviews are not casual chats.

Remember, anything you say during a police interview could be used to charge you or as evidence in court.

How our drug crime lawyers can help you

We can assist with all types of drug investigation and charge, from possession of drugs for personal consumption to large-scale drug conspiracies and organised crime. Our expertise includes:

Possession of drugs
Possession with intent to supply
Supply of drugs
Being concerned in the supply of drugs
Drug conspiracies, such as conspiracy to supply drugs
Production of a controlled drug
Being concerned in the production of drugs
Importation of drugs and drug smuggling
Cannabis cultivation
Drug driving
‘County lines’ offences, such as modern slavery offences, firearms offences, sexual offences and exploitation
Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (PoCA) proceedings, such as cash seizure, Freezing Orders and Confiscation Orders
Other related criminal offences, such as money laundering, fraud or abstracting electricity (which is a type of theft)

It is normal to feel anxious about facing investigation or prosecution for drugs charges. Our clients come from all walks of life, and many have never been in trouble with the law before.

The criminal justice can feel extremely slow at times and it’s likely that you just want it to be over so you can get back to your life as soon as possible and put this behind you.

We know how you’re feeling and we’re here to help. We will take all possible steps to speed up the process and bring any investigation to a close. We can travel at short notice to represent you, often arriving at police stations within 40 minutes of being called.

Why choose us to defend allegations of drug related crime?

As one of top Criminal Law teams in the country according to client reviews and case volume, you can trust us to do our best for you.

Visit our Criminal Law Solicitors page for more information about our reviews, skills and accreditations.

Drug offence FAQs

What are the penalties for drug crimes?

If you are successfully prosecuted for a drug crime, the sentence you could receive will depend on factors such as:

The seriousness of the drug involved (e.g. whether the drug was a Class A, Class B or Class C drug).
The scale of the drug offence, such as the quantity of drugs, value of the drugs and the type of offence (e.g. possession of a small quantity of drugs for personal consumption versus a large scale organised drug supply conspiracy).
Your role in the offence, e.g. whether you took a leading role or you were following the orders of other people.
Whether you plead guilty to the offence at court.
Whether you were pressured into taking part in the drug offence.

The maximum sentences for drug possession crimes are:

Class A drugs: up to seven years in prison, an unlimited fine or both
Class B drugs: up to five years in prison, an unlimited fine or both
Class C drugs: up to two years in prison, an unlimited fine or both (except anabolic steroids)

The maximum sentences for drug supply and production are:

Class A drugs: up to life in prison, an unlimited fine or both
Class B drugs: up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both
Class C drugs: up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both

Can the police stop and search you for drugs?

The police can stop and search you if they have ‘reasonable grounds’ to suspect you are carrying something illegal, such as controlled drugs.

You have important legal rights during a stop and search, so if you have been arrested or charged with an offence based on this, get in touch for advice.

What does it mean if your assets are frozen?

As well as conducting criminal prosecutions, the authorities have powers to freeze assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (PoCA) and certain drug laws.

For example, if you are suspected of financially benefiting from drug crime, the court may make a Restraint Order to freeze your bank accounts and prevent you from selling or moving your money and property.

The court may also confiscate assets by making a Confiscation Order. These Orders can be challenged and defended, but the process is complex so it is important to have the help of a specialist solicitor on your side.

We can assist with all types of PoCA proceedings.

Are the police allowed to seize cash?

PoCA also allows prosecuting authorities to seize cash over £1,000 from you if they suspect it is the product of criminal activity or to be used for criminal activity, such as drug deals. It is possible to get cash returned, so speak to your solicitor for expert defence strategy.

Get in touch with our drug offence solicitors

If you or someone you know needs fast, expert criminal law advice and defence at the police station, during investigation or at court, get in touch with our criminal defence solicitors in in Liverpool, Runcorn or Warrington.

Call 03444 124348 | Ask us a Question

For urgent out of hours matters call FREEPHONE 0808 196 1790

We regularly travel across the country to assist people at the police station or at court. Our lawyers are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.