Taiwan Women and Children Police Notice: 6 Essential Steps

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Receiving a notice from Taiwan’s Women and Children Protection Police Unit (婦幼警察隊) can be unsettling, particularly if it concerns sexual assault, non-consensual sexual contact or child sexual exploitation.

You may feel tempted to contact the complainant immediately, delete embarrassing messages or attend questioning without preparation. These reactions can complicate the investigation and make important evidence harder to assess.A police notice is not a finding of guilt. Your first priority should be to understand why you have been called, preserve relevant records and obtain legal advice before questioning where possible.

1. Understand What the Police Notice Means

Women and Children Protection Police Units handle matters involving sexual violence, domestic violence and the protection of children, including suspected sexual exploitation. The unit’s involvement reflects the subject matter of the investigation; it does not establish that an offense occurred.

💡Check the notice carefully for:

The issuing agency and officer’s contact details;
The case number and stated subject of the investigation;
Whether you are being called as a suspect, defendant or witness;
The date, time and location of the interview.

Do not assume that the police have already reached a conclusion or that you know the full allegation. A lawyer can help clarify your procedural status and prepare for the issues likely to arise.

2. Prepare Promptly and Follow the Actual Appearance Date

The period immediately after receiving a notice is valuable for preserving evidence and arranging legal assistance.

However, “the first 72 hours” is a practical preparation guideline, not a universal legal deadline. The appearance date on the notice and any applicable procedural deadlines must be checked separately.

Begin by collecting the notice, relevant communications and supporting documents. Write a factual timeline covering the events before, during and after the alleged incident. Identify what you remember clearly and what remains uncertain.

➠If you cannot attend on the scheduled date, contact the issuing agency or have your lawyer discuss the situation promptly. Do not simply ignore the notice.

3. Avoid Direct Contact with the Complainant or Witnesses

You may believe the allegation is a misunderstanding and want to explain, apologize or ask the other person to withdraw it. Before making contact, seek legal advice.

Messages can become evidence. Depending on their content and circumstances, repeated contact, pressure or requests to coordinate accounts may raise concerns about interference with witnesses.

➠If communication or settlement discussions are appropriate, your lawyer can assess how they should be conducted. A settlement does not automatically end a criminal investigation, and its effect depends on the alleged offense and applicable law.

Avoid discussing the case publicly or posting identifying information about the complainant.

4. Preserve Complete Messages and Digital Evidence

Do not delete conversations, reset your phone, alter screenshots or ask anyone else to remove records.

Preserve complete communications from LINE, Instagram, dating apps, email and other platforms, including timestamps and account information. Hotel bookings, receipts, transport records and relevant witness details may also help establish the timeline.

Where CCTV footage may exist, identify the location promptly so your lawyer can request its preservation or collection before it is overwritten.

👨🏻‍⚖️In sexual assault investigations, messages and footage must be assessed in context. Flirting, entering a hotel voluntarily, a previous sexual relationship or friendly contact afterward does not, by itself, establish consent to the alleged sexual act.Where an investigation concerns sexual images involving a child, obtain legal advice on safe preservation and submission. Do not forward or create additional copies of the images simply to explain the case.

5. Understand Your Rights Before Police Questioning

Your first police interview can become an important part of the investigation record. Preparation helps you give accurate answers and avoid confusion.

As a suspect or defendant, you have procedural rights, including the right to remain silent and to seek assistance from defense counsel. A lawyer can explain those rights, attend questioning where permitted and raise concerns about unclear questions or inaccurate recording.

🔎During the interview:

Ask for clarification if you do not understand a question;
Avoid guessing dates, amounts, words or intentions;
Distinguish your own observations from assumptions;
Explain when you do not remember something;
Review the written record and request corrections before signing.

Preparing for questioning means organizing truthful information—not rehearsing an invented account.

For foreign nationals, language difficulties deserve particular attention. Request appropriate interpretation if needed, and ensure that you understand both the questions and the recorded answers.

6. Choose a Defense Strategy Based on the Specific Allegation

Sexual assault, non-consensual sexual contact and child sexual exploitation involve different legal requirements. They should not be treated as one interchangeable category.

A criminal defense lawyer can examine the alleged conduct, communications, witness accounts and other evidence to identify what the prosecution must establish.

Where the evidence does not sufficiently support an offense, the defense may seek non-prosecution during the investigation or an acquittal at trial. If criminal responsibility is supported, counsel can assess legally available mitigation, settlement and sentencing options.

Deferred prosecution is not available for every sexual offense. Taiwan’s general deferred-prosecution rules exclude offenses punishable by death, life imprisonment or a statutory minimum of three years’ imprisonment. Eligibility must therefore be checked against the particular offense. tpc.moj.gov.tw

➠A suspended sentence is a separate court decision subject to its own requirements. Neither deferred prosecution nor a suspended sentence can be promised in advance.

💡Confidential Legal Assistance in Taiwan

Chien Sheng International Law Firm assists clients facing investigations involving sexual assault, non-consensual sexual contact, child sexual exploitation and intimate-image offenses.

Our team can review the police notice, organize evidence, prepare clients for questioning and provide representation during the investigation and court proceedings. We handle sensitive information in accordance with professional confidentiality obligations.

Before your scheduled interview, bring the notice, complete communications and relevant records to a consultation. Prompt preparation can help protect your rights and ensure that your position is presented accurately.

This article provides general information about Taiwan law. The appropriate response and possible outcome depend on your procedural status, the alleged offense and the complete evidence. It does not replace individual legal advice or guarantee a particular result.