NCJ Number
143130
Journal
Research Findings Issue: 5 Dated: (March 1993) Pages: complete issue
Date Published
1993
Length
58 pages
Annotation
Data gathered before and after the revised police procedures relating to the detention, handling, and questioning of suspects in Great Britain were used to examine the operation and impact of the Codes of Practice issued under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE).
Abstract
Introduced in April 1991, the revised procedures require police to give suspects two notices regarding their rights and to tell suspects that legal advice is private, independent, free, and a continuing right. They must also inform suspects of the right to consult the PACE Codes of Practice. The research was conducted by observations and record reviews at 12 police stations in six police forces. The analysis revealed that suspects received more information about their rights after the changes in the codes; nearly three-fourths were told that legal advice was free. However, some required information, especially information regarding private consultation with a legal advisor, were often omitted. After the introduction of the codes, the proportion of suspects requesting legal advice increased from 24 to 32 percent and the proposition of cases in which custody officers contacted a legal advisor on the suspect's behalf when asked to do so increased from 80 to 87 percent. In addition, suspects interviewed by the police are now more likely to have spoken first to a legal advisor. Furthermore, the proportion of cases in which suspects were asked questions or made admissions between arrest and arrival at the police station were reduced by half, to 10 and 9 percent of cases respectively. Findings indicated that the revised codes have achieved some degree of success.