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Missed a police interview: what now?

You missed a police interview. Find the original invitation and check the date, your stated role and the contact details. Missing the appointment does not end the investigation.

Duration: 1:25

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This video summarises the main points. The full article provides more detail, exceptions and official sources. This information does not replace advice about your case.

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Criminal Law in the Netherlands.

You missed a police interview. Find the original invitation and check the date, your stated role and the contact details. Missing the appointment does not end the investigation.

An invitation for questioning, a witness summons and a court summons are different documents. Ask your lawyer which document you received and what it requires.

Write down when the invitation arrived and why you did not attend. Keep messages and supporting documents. Mark anything you cannot remember accurately.

Verify the police contact through an official channel. Ask what has happened since the missed appointment and whether a new appointment has actually been confirmed.

Speak with your lawyer before a new interview. Discuss your rights, the allegation, language needs and whether your lawyer will attend. A phone call is not itself legal advice.

Save the new appointment and any written confirmation. Do not assume an unanswered message has changed the date or removed another obligation. Ask your lawyer about uncertainty.

Read the full explanation on the Criminal Law in the Netherlands website.

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What should you do after an arrest?

Arrested in the Netherlands? Ask what you are suspected of. Suspicion does not mean that guilt has been established.

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Your rights during police questioning

Invited for police questioning in the Netherlands? Check your role. This explanation concerns questioning as a suspect, rather than as a witness.

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Received a summons: what happens next?

A Dutch criminal summons calls you to court. The Public Prosecution Service presents an accusation; the judge decides the case.

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Understand the supporting sources

Sources and supporting information

Here you can find the sources for this page. Open the original publication for the full explanation, conditions and exceptions.

  3. Police: the task of a lawyer before and during the interrogationOpens in a new tabpolitie.nlhttps://www.politie.nl/informatie/wat-is-de-taak-van-de-advocaat-van-de-verdachte.html
  4. Police: official contact channelsOpens in a new tabpolitie.nlhttps://www.politie.nl/contact
  5. National government: arrest, detention and follow-upOpens in a new tabrijksoverheid.nlhttps://www.rijksoverheid.nl/themas/recht-veiligheid-en-defensie/overvallen-straatroof-en-woninginbraak/vraag-en-antwoord/rechtspraak-en-geschiloplossing/wat-gebeurt-er-als-ik-word-verdacht-van-een-strafbaar-feit

Sources accessed at .

A source reference does not constitute a legal review of this page.

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