Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to let the police into your home. If you find yourself in a position where they’re asking to come in, it’s a genuine question. You can tell them no if you would like. That does not give them the grounds to arrest you or cause any other legal problems.
That said, there are three different ways that police can enter a person’s home. It’s important to know what these are, so let’s quickly go over them below.
With their consent
First and foremost, the police can try to get your consent to come inside the house. That’s why they’re going to knock on the door and ask if they can come in. If you give them permission, then they may come in and look for evidence while they talk to you. Remember that you can also withdraw your consent.
With a warrant
The police can also come inside if they get a warrant to search your home. They have to go to a judge and get this warrant signed. If you don’t give consent, then they can use the warrant to enter your home anyway. But the police are not necessarily going to be honest with you, so it is important to ask them to see the warrant if they claim to have it.
In an emergency
Finally, there are some emergency situations that may arise. Perhaps the police are in hot pursuit of a suspect, or they believe that a crime is taking place in the house. They don’t have time to get a warrant first. They can still enter in an emergency and then show that it was justified to the court.
Do you think that the police may have violated your rights by entering your home illegally? If that led to an arrest, it’s quite important to know what legal options you have at your disposal.
