It is essential that you do not participate in any recorded interview until you have spoken to a criminal lawyer. While you may feel the urge to explain your side of the story to police, doing so without proper legal advice can be very risky and often does more harm than good.

These police interviews are typically not opportunities to talk your way out of being charged; rather, they are an exercise in gathering evidence.  Remaining silent does not imply guilt. It is your right to remain silent, and this cannot be held against you.

If there is something important for the police to know, it should be communicated through your lawyer, who can carefully assess the best way to do so without risking self-incrimination.

At the start of any recorded interview, the police will inform you of your rights, which include:

The right to speak with a lawyer;
The right to contact a relative or friend to inform them of your whereabouts;
The right to an interpreter if you are unable to communicate effectively in spoken English;
The right to remain silent and not answer any questions unless you choose to do so.

You should not participate in any interview, answer questions, or make any statements until you have fully exercised these rights.