prelim to prosecution Flashcards
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Definition of interview
questioning of a person regarding their involvement or suspected involvement in a criminal offence which must be carried out under caution
10.1
a person whom there are grounds to suspect of an offence must be cautioned before any questions about an offence, are put to them. if either the suspect’s answers or their silence. (ie: failure or refusal to answer or answer satisfactorily) may be given in evidence to a court in a prosecution.
when is a caution not necessary
a) solely to establish identity or ownership of a vehicle
b) to obtain info in accordance with a statutory requirement
c) in furtherance of the proper and effective conduct of a search
d) to seek verification of a written record of comments made by the person outside an interview
does the questioning of a person where the caution does not need to be administered amount to an interview for the purposes of code C?
no.
does questioning a person about an offence where there are grounds to suspect him amount to an interview?
yes, even if the person has not been arrested and no decision to arrest has been made
what does an offence mean?
a caution must be given if the person is questioned about an offence other than that for which he has been arrested if there are grounds to suspect the person of it
where may an interview be conducted?
he must normally be interviewed only at a police station or other authorised place of detention
defn of decision to arrest
if a police officer has decided to arrest a person, the arrest should not be delayed in order to question the suspect before doing so
what are the exceptions to conducting an interview at the police station?
delay would:
a) lead to interference with or harm to evidence connected with an offence, interference with or physical harm to other persons, or serious loss of, or damage to property
b) altering of other persons suspected of having committed an offence but not yet arrested for it
c) hinder the recovery of property obtained in consequences of the commission of an offence.
interviewing in these circumstances must cease once risk is averted.
can police officer not at the station interview detainee?
yes, s75 allows police not at the station to interview using a live link.
defn of live link
enables a custody officer to transfer or permit the transfer of the detained person to a police officer for the purposes of a live link interview conducted by another officer.
when must a caution be administered?
must be administered at the commencement of an interview whether or not it is conducted at a police station
does caution need to be repeated after breaks?
yes. if there’s any doubt, the caution should be given again in full.
must caution be given on arrest?
yes
what’s contained in the caution?
“you do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. anything you do say may be given in evidence”
are minor deviations from caution allowed?
yes as long as the sense of the caution is preserved
what if the interpreter does not perfectly translate the caution?
it will not be invalid provided the essential features are adequately conveyed to the suspect. if the suspect does not understand, the person giving it should explain it in his or her own words
is the caution different if a suspect is interviewed after charge in circumstances where solicitor has been requested but has not been permitted
yes. it reads “you do not have to say anything, but anything you do say may be given in evidence”. the reason for the different caution is that in such circumstances inferences cannot be drawn under the CJPO 1994 ss34,36 or 37. although code C does not require a caution to be given if a statement is taken after charge, it should be given.
what does grounds to suspect mean?
there must be some reasonable, objective grounds for the suspicion, based on known facts or information
are grounds for caution an objective or subjective?
objective- does not depend on how the police regarded the matter
does failure to administer caution in circumstances where it is required a breach of code C?
yes-its a significant and substantial breach of code C but it will not necessarily result in exclusion of evidence in the interview.
will giving the wrong caution lead to exclusion?
no
kirk 1999
D was arrested for theft and was not told that V had died; believing himself to be facing only theft, he made admissions. it was held that these should have been excluded.
when must a special warning be given?
a) asked to account for object, mark or substance found on himself/clothing/footwear/his possession/place where arrest took place
b) account for his presence at the place where arrest took place
- inferences cannot be drawn if warning is not given.
- requirement to give special warning does not apply where person who has requested solicitor is interviewed without having been given the opportunity to consult solicitor, since inferences from refusal or failure to account cannot be drawn as a result of the CJPO 1994 ss36(4A) and 37(3A)
what can a significant statement do?
capable of being used in evidence, and in particular a direct admission of guilt
defn of significant silence
failure or refusal to answer a question or answer satisfactorily when under caution