Interview under caution: summary
There are many things that you can do to make sure your interview under caution goes as well as it can. Here is a quick reminder of some key points:
Before the interview under caution:
- Get free independent professional advice.
- Get more information.
- Decide whether to go, alone or with someone.
- Make sure you’re getting the right benefits.
- Prepare a statement of what you think happened.
- Get evidence which backs up your statement.
At the interview under caution:
- Don't be intimidated.
- Listen to their points and make notes if you want to.
- Be clear what you want to say to them.
- Don’t agree to something just to try and sort it out.
- Stay calm: if you start to feel upset or angry ask for a break in the interview.
- If you don’t understand anything: ask them to explain or repeat it.
- Don't take everything they say at face value: Sometimes investigators can get things wrong.
- If they tell you something that you didn’t know about, ask to see what evidence they have gathered.
- You can refuse to comment or to answer their questions, but be careful not to lose the opportunity to say something that you may want to rely on later.
- You can end the interview at any time, but try and do it politely.
After the interview under caution:
- Talk to your adviser about what happened in the interview. They can advise you on what to do next.
- If you have a right to the tape recording (see What will the interview be like?) and need it ask for a copy.
- Send them extra information to back up points you made in the interview.
- Check that you are on the right benefits.
