Taiwan Police Interview Notice from the Women and Children Protection Unit: 3 Steps to Take

If you receive a Taiwan police interview notice from a Women and Children Protection Unit (婦幼警察隊), start by verifying the appointment, asking whether you are being interviewed as a suspect or a witness, and preserving the original records. A notice is a request to appear for questioning. It does not mean you have been charged, and it does not tell you what evidence the police have. law.moj.gov.tw

⚠️Use the first 72 hours after receiving the notice to get organized, if the appointment allows. The 72 hours are a preparation window, not a statutory deadline or an extension. If your appointment is sooner, act promptly and follow the confirmed reporting date and time.

1. Verify Your Taiwan Police Interview Notice and Confirm Your Role

Women and Children Protection Units handle matters including sexual assault, sexual harassment, domestic violence, and the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents. The unit’s name does not establish which offense is being investigated or why you have been asked to attend. typd.gov.tw

Check the issuing agency, any case reference, the date and time, and the location. If you are unsure whether the notice is genuine, call the number listed on the police department’s official website. When you call, focus on confirming the appointment and your role in the interview. You do not need to give a detailed account of the incident just to confirm those details.

▫️Ask whether you are being interviewed as a suspect or a witness   

Your procedural rights depend on your role. If the notice is unclear, ask before the interview begins. If the questions shift from what you observed to whether you personally committed an offense, ask the officer to clarify your status before continuing. If you are a suspect, the police must inform you of the suspected offense and your rights before questioning. law.moj.gov.tw

▫️Request a new appointment if you cannot attend   

Contact the issuing unit as soon as possible, explain the reason, and confirm whether the appointment has actually been changed. Keep a record of that confirmation. Under Article 71-1 of Taiwan’s Code of Criminal Procedure, if a suspect fails to appear after lawful notice without a valid reason, police may ask a prosecutor to issue an apprehension warrant. Asking for a new date does not by itself change the original appointment. law.moj.gov.tw

2. Preserve the Evidence and Avoid Direct Contact About the Case

Keep the original records, including material that may seem unfavorable or that you do not yet understand. A full conversation may show who sent a message, when it was sent, and what came before or after it. A cropped screenshot may leave out exactly the context needed to interpret it.

▫️Keep the original devices and records   

• Preserve complete message threads, call logs, emails, and account details. Do not edit messages, reset a device, remotely wipe an account, or ask anyone else to remove records.
• Put relevant events in date order. Note meeting times, places, travel, and any records that can verify them. Keep what you remember separate from what you learned later or are inferring.
• Identify evidence that may disappear, such as surveillance footage. Note the location and approximate time so counsel can assess how to request preservation.
• If the case involves suspected sexual images of a minor, do not download, duplicate, upload, or forward the images to prepare for your consultation. Keep the device and account in their original state and ask counsel how to arrange lawful handling. Taiwan law treats production, distribution, delivery, and possession as distinct issues. law.moj.gov.tw

▫️Avoid contacting the complainant or witnesses to discuss the allegations    

It is understandable to want to explain, apologize, or find out why a report was made. A direct message can create unwanted pressure and become part of the case record. Do not ask anyone to change their account, withdraw a complaint, delete messages, or coordinate what they will say. If you need to communicate for work, family, or another practical reason, first check whether any order or restriction applies and discuss an appropriate channel with counsel.

▫️Match each piece of evidence to the issue it can actually show   

Prior flirting, a relationship, or later contact does not by itself establish consent to a particular act. In a sexual assault investigation, what happened at the time matters. In a case involving sexual images of a minor, the legal questions may instead concern age, who controlled an account, how a file was obtained, and whether anyone created, retained, or sent it. The person’s agreement to take or send an image does not by itself make the conduct lawful. law.moj.gov.tw

3. Prepare for Questioning and Review the Written Record

The first police interview matters because later investigators may compare the written record with your subsequent statements and other evidence. Before attending, consider taking the notice and your timeline to a lawyer who handles Taiwan criminal investigations. Preparation can help you distinguish what you remember from what you need to verify, decide how to exercise your rights, and identify evidence worth requesting.

▫️Know your rights as a suspect  

Articles 95 and 100-2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure apply key questioning protections to police interviews of suspects. These include notice of the suspected offense, the right to remain silent, the right to appoint defense counsel, and the right to request investigation of favorable evidence. If you have already appointed counsel and are being questioned without counsel present, say so clearly. Article 95 generally requires questioning to stop in that situation unless you agree to continue. Saying that you would like to find a lawyer is different from saying that you have already appointed one. law.moj.gov.tw

★Under Article 245, defense counsel may generally attend questioning, take notes, and express views, subject to statutory exceptions. Counsel can help you clarify a question or identify a problem with the record. Your account should still reflect what you actually remember. law.moj.gov.tw

If you cannot understand the language used in the interview, ask for an interpreter before answering substantive questions. Article 99 provides for interpretation where a language barrier prevents effective communication. Ask for clarification if a translation seems incomplete or if you do not understand a document you are being asked to sign. law.moj.gov.tw

▫️Read the written record before signing  

Check that the record distinguishes between what you saw, what someone told you, and what you inferred. If you said, “I do not remember the time,” the record should not turn that into an estimate you never gave. Ask for corrections or additions and, if a disagreement remains, ask for your objection to be recorded. If you are unsure how to respond to a question, you can exercise your right to remain silent rather than guess. law.moj.gov.tw

4. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1 : Does a Taiwan police interview notice mean I will be arrested when I arrive?

No. The notice itself is not an arrest warrant. Any arrest or other compulsory measure must have a separate legal basis. Verify why you are being asked to attend, and have counsel review the notice if you are unsure about your status or the procedure. law.moj.gov.tw

Q2 :Do I have to wait 72 hours before going to the police station?

No. The 72-hour window is simply a way to organize your preparation. Follow the appointment on the notice unless the issuing unit confirms a change. If the appointment is imminent, prioritize verifying it, preserving original records, and arranging legal or language assistance.

Q3 :Can I attend without a lawyer?

Yes, a lawyer is not required at every police interview. If you are being questioned as a suspect, you can choose to appoint counsel and exercise your right to remain silent. Legal advice may be particularly useful if the allegations involve disputed consent, a minor, or electronic evidence. law.moj.gov.tw

Q4 :Can an apology or settlement end the case?

It depends on the specific offense and procedure. A private settlement does not automatically end a criminal investigation. Whether a formal withdrawal has legal effect depends on whether the offense requires a complaint for prosecution and whether the statutory conditions are met. Deferred prosecution is also subject to legal limits and is not available for every offense. law.moj.gov.tw

Q5 :What if I have already given a statement and noticed a mistake?

Write down the question, what you intended to say, and the part of the record you believe is inaccurate. Tell your lawyer promptly so they can assess whether to submit a clarification or request review of the interview recording. A later correction does not erase the earlier statement; explaining the specific discrepancy helps put both accounts in context. law.moj.gov.tw

Chien Sheng International Law Firm can help you review the notice, prepare for questioning, and assess how the evidence relates to the specific allegation. For an initial consultation, have the notice, appointment details, and a factual timeline ready. If sensitive images are involved, describe the issue without sending the files.

🔎Related reading: What to do after a sexual harassment complaint or police notice · Taiwan legal guides from Chien Sheng International Law Firm

🔎Official references: Taiwan Code of Criminal Procedure · Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act · Taoyuan Women and Children Protection Unit

※This article provides general information on Taiwan law. The applicable rights and procedures depend on your role, the alleged offense, and the stage of the investigation.