Advising clients at the police station Flashcards
What are three of the ongoing rights of a suspect detained by the police for questioning?
Right to legal advice
Right to have someone informed of arrest
Reviews & detention time limits under Code C
What is a suspect’s right to free & independent legal advice?
Entitled to consult a solicitor privately at any time, whether in person, writing, telephone as soon as is practicable
What is the police procedure for a suspect exercising their right to free & independent legal advice?
Police contact the Defence Solicitor Call Centre –> either free telephone advice or in person
If solicitor attends station, suspect must be:
- Informed of the solicitor’s arrival at the station
- Asked if they would like to see the solicitor (even if have previously declined legal advice)
Can the right to free & independent legal advice be delayed by the police?
Must be authorised by at least a superintendent for max 36 hours only when:
a) Suspect has been arrested for an indictable offence; and
b) Office has reasonable grounds for believing that exercising this right at the time when the suspects wants to exercise it will:
i. Lead to interference with or harm to evidence or other persons; or
ii. Lead to the alerting of other people suspected but not yet arrested; or
iii. Hinder the recovery of any property obtained as a result of the offence
What is the rank of officer who can delay a suspect’s right to free and independent legal advice?
At least a superintendent
(For max. 36 hours)
What is the rank of officer that can delay a suspect’s right to have someone informed of their arrest?
At least inspector (for max 36 hours)
What are the grounds for delaying a suspect’s right to have someone informed of their arrest?
Suspect has been indicted for an indictable offence
and
Officer has reasonable grounds for believing that exercising this right at the time the suspect wants to will:
i) Lead to interference with / harm to evidence or other persons; or
ii) Lead to the alerting of other people suspected but not yet arrested; or
iii) Hinder the recovery of any property obtained as a result of the offence
What is the detention time limit (starting point)?
A person cannot be kept in detention for more than 24 hours without charge beginning from the ‘relevant time’
‘Relevant time’: when they arrive at the police station (or at the time of their arrest if attend station voluntarily & are then arrested / delay between arrival & authorisation of detention)
When are detention reviews?
Within 6 hours from detention being authorised (review by at least inspector to determine whether detention still necessary)
&
Within 9 hours from first detention review (review by at least inspector to determine whether detention still necessary)
Who can authorise continued detention for an extra 12 hours (ie. to 36 hours)?
At least superintendent & only if reasonable grounds for believing that:
- Offence is indictable offence
& - Detention without charge necessary to secure the evidence or obtain evidence by questioning them
& - The investigation is being carried out diligently & expeditiously
Who can authorise further detention after 36 hours by another 36 hours (ie. to 72 hrs)?
Magistrates authorising a warrant of further detention - if there are reasonable grounds for believing that:
a. Detention without charge necessary to secure the evidence or obtain evidence by questioning them
and
b. Investigation is being carried out diligently & expeditiously
When can detention be extended beyond 72 hours?
Exceptional cases: police can make additional application for extension of warrant of further detention if:
- Continued detention necessary to secure evidence or obtain by questioning;
- Investigation being carried out diligently & expeditiously
and
- There are reasonable grounds for believing that further detention justified
Time limit: Any period as court sees fit so long as not longer than 36 hrs or end later than 96 hours after the ‘relevant time’
What is the maximum amount of time detention can be extended beyond 72 hours?
96 hours (ie. 4 days)
Court can grant extension to warrant for any period as see fit, so long as not longer than 36 hours or end later than 96 hours after the ‘relevant time’
What are the grounds for detention?
- Reasonable grounds that detaining the suspect without charge will secure/preserve evidence
- Necessary to obtain evidence by questioning
When must an identification procedure be held?
- Witness has identified/purported to identify a suspect
- Witness thinks they can identify/reasonable chance of identification & suspect disputes being the person witness claims to have seen