Noticing that there are police officers at your door can be worrying. In fact, this turn of events can cause some people to act in ways that land them in trouble, even if they had not done anything wrong until the police arrived on their doorstep.
You may wonder whether you need to speak to them or open the door to them. Do you?
You don’t need to speak
First of all, you are not obligated to speak to the officers. This rule applies when they ask if anyone is home – in which case you have the option to say nothing and pretend you are not there. Or if they enter and ask you questions. If they ask questions and you want them to stop, you’ll need to tell them explicitly that you are invoking the right to remain silent – which obviously involves you saying a few words, at least.
You do not need to open the door to the police, but they may have the right to enter
Let’s say the circumstances are such that the police have the right to enter your premises. Refusing to open will not stop them – it just means you’ll be paying for a new door after they break it down.
They have the right to enter:
- If they have a valid warrant with the correct details and a judge’s signature on it.
- If they are chasing a suspect who they believe has entered your property.
- If there are “exigent circumstances,” such as they believe a crime is being committed or about to be committed. That could mean someone is about to destroy evidence or someone is about to harm another.
They can also enter if you let them, and they may just ask to see if you will. Once inside, it will be much easier for them to spot things they could use to build a case against you, even if you have done nothing wrong.
If a police visit does result in legal problems, it’s best to seek legal guidance to understand what to do next.