Criminal Litigation Flashcards
What three rights must the custody officer ensure the person being arrested is aware of?
Right to consult privately with a solicitor and free independent legal advice is available
Right to have someone informed of their arrest
right to consult the COdes of Practice
At what point must the person detained be told of their right to free legal advice?
- Before commencement of an interview
- being asked to provide an intimmate sample
- before an intimate drug search
- before an identification parade or video ID procedure
Where should it be noted if the legal advice is declined?
In the custody record
How soon should legal advice be provided after it is requested?
As soon as it is practicable
How long can the right to legal advice be delayed for?
Up to a maximum of 36 hours
What are the criteria for delaying the right to legal advice?
- Must be delayed by a person with authority of at least superintendent and granted in writing
- Person must be in detention for an indctable offence
What are the grounds for which the police can delay right to legal advice?
- interference with/harm to evidnce connected with the offence or others
- alerting other people suspected of commtting the offence
- hindering the recovery or property in consequence of the offence
What rank of police has the power to delay the right to have someone informed of the arrest?
Granted in writing by police officer at least rank inspector
What are the grounds for which police can delay the right to have someone informed of the arrest?
-interference with/harm to evidence connected with the offence
- interference with/harm to others
- alerting of other people suspected of committing an intidctable offence
-hinder the recovery of property obtained in consequence of the commission of such an offence
How long can the police delay the right to have someone informed of their arrest?
Up to 36 hours
When does the right to an appropriate adult apply?
- When the person is mentally disordered or mentally vulnerable
- anyone under the age of 18
Who can act as an appropriate adult?
- parent
- guardian
- social worker
Who cannot act as an appropriate adult?
Any person
- suspected of involvement in the offence
- victim or witness to the offence
- involved in the investigation
- person who has received admission from the person detained before acting as an appropriate adult
-low IQ
- estranged parent
What is the role of an appropriate adult?
- ensure detained person understands what is happening and why
- support, advise and assist the detained person
- observe whether the police are acting properly and fairly
- assist with communication between detainee and police
- ensure the detained person understands their rights
Does the detained person have to see a solicitor if the AA request one?
No, the detained person does not have to see the solicitor if they don’t want to
When can the police proceed without an appropriate adult?
- interference with harm or evidence connected with an offence
- interference or physical harm to other people
- serious loss of or damage to property
- alerting other suspects
- hindering the recovery of property
What must the police interviews be carried out under?
Under caution
Is there a general right to disclosure?
No
How much information do the police need to give the solicitor before the interview
Solicitor must be given sufficient information to enable them to understand the nature of any such offence and why the client is suspected of committing it
When should a person not be interviewed?
If they are unable to to understand what is happening because of the effects of drink, drugs or any illness
If they are unable to appreciate the significance of the questions asked or answeredun
What rank of officer can authorise an interview even when the rules say they shouldn’t be?
Superintendent
When should the solicitor intervene in an interview?
- information or evidence is referred to or produced that was not disclosed
- clarification on any matter
- there is inappropriate questioing
- inappropriate behaviour
- further advice to the client is needed
- break is requried
What is the role of the custody officer?
- responsible for the handling and welfare of suspects in detention at police station
- must be unrelated to the provess of the investigation of the offence
What should the rank of a custody officer be?
at least sergeant
What rank must the review officer be?
at least inspector and not connected to the investigation
How long and from what point should the first review be made?
6 hours after suspects detention was first authorised by the custody officer
How long intervals should the detainees detention be reviewed after the first review?
9 hours
What is the maximum period a suspect can be kept in custody (and from what time)?
24 hours from the relevant time (time of arrival at police station)
Who has the power to extend the the detention time limit to 36 hours?
officer of at least rank of superintendent
When can an officer request an extension to the 24 hour detention?
Must be before the the expiry of the initial 24 hours and after the second review has occurred
What should the police do if they want to further extend beyond the 36 hours?
Apply to the Magistrates court. They can award an extension of up to 36 hours on the first hearing and a further 36 hours on the second hearing
What is the solicitors role for their client?
Active Defence
What are the three options a solicitor can give their clients about the police interview?
- Answer questions
- Don’t answer questions
- Provide a written statement and say ‘no comment’
What consequences are there for a client to remain silent in interview?
Adverse inferences
What inference can be drawn under s34?
when the defendant later relied on a fact in their defence that was not offered at the time of questioing
- the court must draw a proper inference
Under what conditions must an adverse inference be drawn?
It must have been reaosnable to have mentioned it at the time, bearing in mind all the circumstances existing at the time
What inference can be drawn un s36?
when the suspect fails to account for an object, substance or mark found on them at the time of the arrest
What inference can be drawn under s37?
when the suspect fails to account for their prescence on arrest at a particular place
What is different about s36/37 to s34
s36/37 do not need to bfail to mention something later relied upon
Can an adverse inference be made when the suspect has not been allowed access to legal advice?
No
What is the time limit for bringing a charge against a person for summary only and indictable offences?
Summary only: within 6 months of the alleged offence
Indictable: no time limit
Name some summary-only offences
Assault, Battery, SCD of £5000 or less
Name some either-way offences
Theft
Burglary
Fraud
S47
S20
SCD exceeding £5000
Simple Arson
Name some Indictable only offences
Robbery
s18
Aggravated Burglary
Aggravated arson
Aggravated criminal damage
Murder
Involuntary manslaughter
What is the value below for shoplifting which makes it summary only?
Below £200
Does a description of clothing/ vehicle, suspect having a connection to a particular place or description of suspect count as visual identification evidence?
No
When does an identification procedure not need to be held?
If it is not practicable or would serve no useful purpose (eg the suspect is already known to the eye witness)
If suspect identity is known to the police and they are available, which identification procedures can be used?
Video identification
Identification parade
Group Identification
Who can carry out the identification process?
Officer not below rank of inspector who is not involved in the investigation
When must an ID procedure be held?
When an eyewitness
- has identified a suspect
- is available who expresses an ability to identify the suspect
- has a reasonable chance of being able to idetify the suspect
What is the funding situation for the client at the police station?
Every individual is able to have access to a solicitor at the police station. This is limited to telephone advice only for non-imprisonable offences
How can a defendant obtain a representation order?
They must pass both the means test and merits test.
Both must be passed in order to secure public funding
Explain the means tests in Magistrates
Means Test (Magistrates): analyses the weighted gross annual income
- If below the lower theshold of £12,475 then they are eligible
- If above the upper threshold of £22,325 then they are inelgible for public funding
- If inbetween thresholds then they are required to undertake a full means test
Explain the means test in the Crown Court
Applicant is assessed on their income and capital
Ineligible for public funinding if above the threshold of £37,500
What is the Merits Test?
defendant must demonstrate that it is in the interests of justice for them to be legally represented
When does the defendant automatically satisfy the Merits Test?
Charged with an indictable only offence
Charged with an either-way offence and is later sent to the Crown Court
When does the defendant automatically satisfy the Merits Test?
Charged with an indictable only offence
Charged with an either-way offence and is later sent to the Crown Court
How many times can the duty solicitor represent the defendant?
Only on one occasion
Where the defendant is on bail, when must the first hearing be held within if the prosecutor anticipates a guilty plea or likely to be sentenced in Magistrates Court?
Within 14 days of being charged
Where the defendant is on bail and it is anticipated that the defendant will plead not guilty and the case will go to Crown Court, when should the first hearing be held?
Within 28 days of being charged
Must the defendant be present at the first hearing?
Yes
When must the prosecution serve the initial details of the case?
As soon as is practicable and no later than the beginning of the day of the first hearing
What are some common bail conditions?
Residence at a given address
Curfew
reporting to a local police station at given times
surety
Security
restriction on where a defendantmay go during bail
restriction on who the defendant may have contact with
TaggingSurrender of passport
Who can vary bail conditions?
Prosecution or Defence can varymake an application to vary the bail conditionswith advance notice given to the other party.
They must apply to the court who granted bail
What is the only bail breach which is a criminal offence?
Failing to surrender to custody