NCJ Number
104652
Date Published
1986
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Under the British Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, provisions for the care of suspects in custody pertain to the conditions and management of incarceration and interrogation.
Abstract
The police must inform suspects about their rights to inform someone, to obtain legal counsel, and to remain silent. Some of these rights may be delayed by police when a 'serious arrestable offense' is involved and when the exercise of a right may harm the evidence, alert persons, or in some other way interfere with the case investigation. The act requires that any delay in suspect exercise of rights be documented, along with the reasons for it. Custody officers are responsible for ensuring that suspects are treated in accordance with law and rules of detention and interrogation. Detailed custody records are required by the act, so as to make police agencies accountable for services given to or withheld from detained suspects. Regarding interrogation conditions, restrictions address who may be interviewed, for how long, and where. Impermissible interrogation tactics are those likely to make admissions or other evidence obtained unreliable. The act's provisions also address interview records and documentation as well as the tape recording of interviews. Although the act's provisions do not guarantee that police will act responsibly and legally toward detained suspects, they do project a model of police professionalism in this area. 8 notes.