PSR & PSRAS Training Guides

PSRAS is the accreditation framework for people who provide legally aided police station advice in England and Wales. It sets standards for knowledge, portfolio evidence, and assessment so representatives can work under appropriate supervision within a criminal defence firm.

The portfolio or workbook records supervised custody and interview attendances, reflections, and sign-off by your firm. It demonstrates readiness for formal PSRAS assessments and safe practice development.

Most candidates join a criminal defence firm as a trainee rep, study PACE and procedure, complete supervised custody attendances, build a portfolio, and pass PSRAS assessments — including MCQs and the Critical Incidents Test.

A police station representative advises clients in police custody or at voluntary interviews, reviews disclosure, takes instructions, advises on interview strategy, and attends interviews — under the supervision of a criminal defence firm and within PACE rules.

PACE Code C governs detention, treatment, and questioning of suspects. Police station reps must know custody rights, the caution, interview rules, vulnerable suspect safeguards, and detention reviews — core PSRAS assessment territory.

PACE Codes A–H set rules for stop and search, detention, identification, interviews, and more. For PSRAS, Code C (detention and questioning) and Code D (identification) are the highest priority, with awareness of others as scenarios require.

The CIT presents realistic custody or interview scenarios and asks candidates to identify issues, prioritise actions, and justify decisions — often under time pressure. It tests application of PACE Code C and related procedure, not rote memorisation alone.

Effective PSRAS preparation combines spaced PACE revision, timed MCQ practice, weekly CIT scenarios, and firm feedback on workbook attendances. Mock exams under time pressure reveal gaps better than passive reading.