What to Tell the Police when They Knock on The Front Door

The police come to your door, knock and demand to enter. What do you do next?

For many people, this is a frightening and confusing encounter. They may never have really thought about it before, and they may assume they have to do what the police officers say. That’s not always the case.

If you do not want them to come into your home, the first thing that you can tell them is that you do not give them your consent to search the house. That’s usually the first thing they’re looking for, as it’s one way to legally go into a home.

If you do not consent, they may say that they have a warrant, and they can come in regardless. While this may be true, you want to ask them if you can see it first. Look at the warrant to make sure that they have the right house and that you know specifically where in the home they can search.

If they ask you questions, with or without entering, you may want to inform them that you’d rather not talk without your lawyer. You can even mention that your lawyer told you not to, as if it’s out of your hands. Some suggest asking the police to leave their card or contact information so that you and your legal team can get in touch with them at a later date.

As you can see, the police do not always have as much control as they want you to think, and it’s very important to know all of your rights.