Arrival at the Police Station Flashcards
what are the relevant COP?
- Code C detention
- Code D identification
- Code E audio recording interviews
- Code F visual recording with sound interviews
who is a volunteer?
the police ask V to voluntarily attend the station to answer questions where they do not have enough evidence or arrest is not necessary.
what rights does a volunteer have?
o Can request a friend or legal rep to be present for the interview
o Entitled to leave at will unless placed under arrest
o Will be informed immediately if placed under arrest
when must S be taken to the police station?
- A suspect (S) must be taken to the police station as soon as practicable after the arrest unless the arresting officer grants street bail
when must S be brought before a custody officer?
- S must be brought before the custody officer (CO) as soon as practicable after arrest (or when answering bail)
what is the custody officer’s rank?
o CO is a rank of at least sergeant and not involved in the investigation
what is the custody officer’s role?
o CO is responsible for authorising detention and supervising welfare
* CO must tell S about their ongoing rights in custody
what are S’ rights in custody?
o Right to consult privately with a solicitor and free legal advice is available
o Right to tell someone where you are
o Right to medical help if unwell
o Right to read COPs
o Right to see a written notice of other rights
o Right to be informed about the offence; any further offences they are arrested for whilst in custody; and why they have been arrested & detained
- S can exercise these at any time
re: right to legal advice (s58)
when must please action a request for legal advice?
- The police must action this as soon as practicable once requested by S
re: right to legal advice (s58)
who can give S legal advice?
- S can use a privately paid solicitor (and must be told they may need to pay for any phone call).
- In all other cases, the police must contact the Defence Solicitor Call Centre (DSCC) (even if S asks for a specific solicitor/firm).
re: right to legal advice (s58)
how does legal advice from the DSCC work?
o DCSS decide if telephone advice is sufficient or if a solicitor needs to attend
o Telephone advice is provided by a solicitor/accredited police station representative through the Criminal Defence Direct (CDD)
re: right to legal advice (s58)
what happens when S’s solicitor attends the station?
- If S’s solicitor attends the station, S must be informed and asked if they would like to see the solicitor (even if they are currently in an interview / previously declined advice)
o Solicitor’s attendance and S’s decision must be noted in the custody record
re: right to legal advice (s58)
what must the police not do?
- The police must not do/say anything to dissuade S from obtaining legal advice
re: right to have someone informed of your arrest (s56)
explain this
- i.e. the right to request to have one person who is known to S be told as soon as practicable that S has been arrested
re: right to legal advice (s58)
when can this be delayed?
permissible where S has been arrested for an indictable offence and must be authorised by an officer of at least super intendent rank
re: right to have someone informed of your arrest (s56)
when can this be delayed?
permissible where S has been detained for an indictable offence and must be authorised by an officer of at least the rank of inspector
what does ‘indictable offences’ include?
indictable offences include either-way and indictable-only offences
re: delaying s56 & 58
on what basis these rights be delayed?
In either case, the respective officer must have reasonable grounds to believe that if S exercises this right at this time it will lead to:
o Interference with or harm to evidence connected to the offence;
o Interreference with or physical injury to another;
o Another suspect who has not yet been arrested being alerted;
o Hinder the recovery of property obtained as a result of the offence
re: delaying s56 & 58
can this be delayed orally?
Authorisation can be orally but must be confirmed in writing as soon as practicable.
re: delaying s56 & 58
how long can this be delayed for?
can be delayed for max 36 hours from the ‘relevant time’, this is the earlier of:
o The time the person arrives at the police station; or
o 24 hours after their arrest
re: custody record
who opens the custody record?
the custody officer
re: custody record
what must this contain?
CO must open a custody record, which includes:
o S’s name, address, number, DOB and occupation
o Offence and reasons for arrest
o Time of arrest and arrival at the station
o Why S’s ongoing detention has been authorised and the time of this
o Confirm S has been told their rights and whether they want legal advice
o Details of property on them and any medical conditions they suffer with
o Solicitor’s attendance and any of S’s comments
- A detention record will be attached to the custody record.
re: custody record
what does the detention record include?
o This sets outs significant events which happen whilst S is in custody
re: search of suspect
who authorises this and to what extent?
CO will authorise a search to the extent necessary to ascertain items in S’s possession.
re: search of suspect
what can be seized and on what basis?
CO can only seize clothes and personal effects if they have reasonably grounds to believe:
o They may be evidence; or
o S may use them to: injure another, damage property, interfere with evidence or assist them to escape
- CO must make a record of the items.
re: decision to detain
what is the general rule when dealing with a S?
- S must be dealt with expeditiously and released as soon as the need for detention no longer applies
re: decision to detain
what is the CO’s role?
- CO must determine if there is sufficient evidence to charge the suspect for which they have been arrested.
- CO must not ask S about their involvement in the offence but must write any comments made by S in the custody record about the account given by the arresting officer for the reasons for the offence
re: decision to detain
how will the CO come to a decision?
- CO will ask the investigative officer (IO) (usually in front of S) about details of evidence already in possession. If there is not any, IO must explain what steps they propose to take (i.e. investigative procedures) if further detention (before charge) is authorised
re: decision to detain
what should happen if there is enough evidence?
S should be charged straight away and either released on bail to appear at the Mags or remanded in custody until they can be brought before the Mags
re: decision to detain
what should happen if there is not enough evidence?
S should be released (with or without bail) unless the CO has reasonable grounds to believe detaining S without charge is necessary to (i.e. grounds for detention):
Secure/preserve evidence (i.e. premises search); or
To obtain such evidence by questioning
re: decision to detain
what are the grounds to detain without charge?
there is reasonable grounds to believe detaining S without charge is necessary to (i.e. grounds for detention):
Secure/preserve evidence (i.e. premises search); or
To obtain such evidence by questioning (most common ground)
re: decision to detain
when must D be released?
o S must be released immediately if the detention ground(s) ceases to apply