NCJ Number
95021
Journal
Howard Journal Volume: 23 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1984) Pages: 88-98
Date Published
1984
Length
11 pages
Annotation
The revised Police and Criminal Evidence Bill attempts to resolve uncertainties in the relationship between police powers to investigate crime and rights of citizens.
Abstract
The Bill extends police powers in relation to stop and search, arrest, detention for interrogation and search of premises. Citizens are expressly given rights, for instance to consult a solicitor, and the Bill seeks to safeguard the citizen from arbitrary exercise of authority by requiring that reasons for the exercise of coercive powers be recorded. The effectiveness of these safeguards will depend upon the quality of supervision by senior officers and by the courts. It is argued that the Bill pays too little attention to the dangers of unreliable evidence resulting from use of coercive police powers. (Author abstract)