Preliminaries to Prosecution Flashcards
What is the purpose of PACE 1984?
governs police powers of investigation, arrest, detention, interrogation, entry and search of premises and people, taking of samples and various identification procedures.
PACE 1984, s. 67(10)?
Failure by a police officer (or similar) to comply with PACE does not automatically render them liable.
PACE 1984, s. 67(11)?
PACE codes are admissible in evidence for criminal and civil proceedings.
Where can you find the definition of “interview”?
PACE Code C, para. 11.1A.
What is an interview?
The ‘questioning of a person regarding their involvement or suspected involvement in a criminal offence or offences which, under para. 10.1, must be carried out under caution.
PACE Code C para 10.1?
A suspect ‘must be cautioned before any questions about an offence, or further questions if the answers provide the grounds for suspicion, are put to them if either the suspect’s answers or their silence may be given in evidence to a court in a prosecution’.
What are the 4 circumstances in which a caution is not necessary before questioning a suspect?
identifying a vehicle, obtaining information in accordance with statute, in furtherance of a proper and effective search, or to seek verification of a written record.
What cannot amount to an interview?
Questioning of a person in circumstances where a caution does not have to be administered.
What is important to note about police cautions?
Cautions must be given to suspects being questioned about another offence to the one they have been arrested for if they are a suspect.
Where can you find the general rules for the conduct of interviews?
Code C section 11
Code C para. 11.1
Following arrest, a suspect must be interviewed at a police station or other authorised place of detention.
What is meant by decision to arrest?
If an officer has decided to arrest someone, the arrest should not be delayed to question the suspect first.
What are the 3 exceptions to the requirement of interviews being conducted at the station?
Where the delay could lead to harm of others or property or evidence, where it could allow tip offs, where it could hinder recovery of property.
In exceptional circumstances for how long may interviews that are outside a station last?
The interview must cease as soon as the relevant risk has been averted.
PACE 1984, s. 39 as amended PCA 2017, s. 75?
suspects in detention can be interviewed by live link to officers not at the station. This remains within code.
When must a caution be issued?
A caution must be given at arrest, commencement and recommencement of any interview, and where there is any expression of doubt of understanding.
Code C, para. 10.7?
Minor deviation from the words of the police caution (10.5) is okay so long as the sense of the caution is preserved.
How is a person suspected of an offence defined?
a person is a suspect if there is some reasonable objective grounds for the suspicion based on known facts or information.
What must a suspect be provided for at interview?
A suspect and their solicitor must be given information to sufficiently understand the nature of the suspected offence.
(Code C para 11.1A)
Williams (Michael) [2012]?
Whether there are sufficient grounds for a caution to be administered is an objective question not based on the police officer’s opinion.
What are the 2 circumstances in which a suspect must be given a special warning following arrest?
A suspect should get a special warning if asked to account for any object mark or substance on them or at the scene, and when asked to account for their presence at the scene.
What must the interviewing officer always remind the suspect?
Upon commencement and recommencement the IO must remind the suspect that they are entitled to free legal advice and that the interview can be delayed to obtain some.
Code C para 11.4?
At the beginning of an interview the IO must, after caution, put any significant statement or silence heard by police staff to the suspect.
Define ‘significant statement’
A significant statement is one which appears to be capable of being used in evidence and in particular a direct admission of guilt.
What is NOT a significant statement that police must immediately raise in interview?
Anything a suspect is alleged to have said as part of the conduct constituting the offence is not a significant statement.
Define ‘significant silence’
A significant silence is a failure or refusal to answer a question or answer or answer satisfactorily when under caution which may give rise to inferences.
Code C para. 11.5?
No officer may use oppression nor indicate how the police will act unless directly responding to a question from the suspect about what would happen next.
Imran and Hussain [1997]?
There is a positive duty on the police not to actively mislead a suspect
Emmerson [1991]?
Rude and loud questioning by police is not oppressive.
Stringer [2008]?
Asking hypothetical questions in police interview is not oppressive
Paris [1993]?
Police questioning continuing after repeated denials or refusals may become oppressive.
Beales [1991]?
Hectoring and bullying during an interview is oppressive.
When must a police interview cease?
When all questions the officer considers relevant to obtaining accurate and reliable information about the offence have been put to the suspect, other evidence has been accounted for and there is a reasonable prospect of conviction.
PACE 1984, s.37(7)?
Once the custody officer determines that there is sufficient evidence to charge suspect they must do so.
Usually precludes further interviewing.
Code C para. 11.6?
Gives police latitude in determining when interviewing should cease. They MAY continue after sufficient evidence has been adduced.
Code C para. 11.7?
Interviews must always be contemporaneously recorded. So must any unsolicited comment.
Code C, para. 11.13?
Suspects must (when appropriate) be given opportunity to verify the record of their interview and comments.
What are the consequences of not recording interviews?
Not recording interviews can lead to the exclusion of evidence.
Code E, para. 2.1?
Interviews must normally be recorded using an authorised recording device.
Code C, para. 11.18
A special category person can’t be interviewed or asked to sign without an appropriate adult unless 1 of 2 exceptions are met.
What are the 2 exceptions to the interview of special category persons without appropriate adults.
Special category persons may be interviewed alone where the rules for emergency on-site interviews applies or where a Superintendent or above authorises it.
What is a special category person?
A child/young person, or mentally disordered, or vulnerable person.
Code C, para. 11.17?
An appropriate adult must be reminded of their functions as advisers and observers as well as facilitating communication.
Re A Ward of Court [2017]?
Judicial consent is not required before the police interview a ward of court.
Code C para 11.18?
A person who needs an interpreter mustn’t be interviewed without one unless there’s no risk of harm to the person and delay will lead to consequences.
Code C, paras. 13.1ZA and 13.12?
Interpreters CAN attend via live link where it will not undermine or limit the suspects ability to communicate.
Code C, para. 11.18 (intoxicated persons)?
Intoxicated people who can’t appreciate or understand the significance of questioning cannot be interviewed unless authorised by a Superintendent or above.
How is ECHR Article 5(1)(c) incorporated into PACE?
Police must almost always have reasonable grounds for suspicion.
ECHR Art. 5(1)(c)?
A person may be deprived of liberty on reasonable suspicion of having committed an offence or when it is reasonably considered necessary to prevent committing an offence or fleeing from one.
What is the difference between the ECHR reasonability test for police powers vs the domestic one?
The ECHR test is reasonable suspicion. The PACE test is reasonable grounds of believing which is a stricter test.
Code A, para 2.2?
Reasonable suspicion [for stop and search] requires both a genuine suspicion by the officer concerned and an objective basis for the suspicion.
Roberts v Chief Constable of Kent [2008]?
The use of force does not necessarily mean it was unreasonable.
Simpson v Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police [1991]?
The use of excessive force does not render an arrest unlawful.
Lockley (1864)?
Handcuffs should only be used when reasonably necessary to prevent an escape or to prevent a violent breach of the peace.
Taylor (1895)?
When handcuffs are unjustifiably used it is a trespass against the person even if the arrest itself is lawful.
What is the definition of arrest?
There is no statutory definition. It is an ordinary word meaning “to be deprived of liberty to go where you please”. It is supported with contextual factors.
Iqbal [2011]?
A person who has been handcuffed and told they will later be arrested by others is not under arrest.
What condition must be met to allow arrest?
An officer must at the least perceive a possibility of a charge being made. (although following with a charge is not necessary).
Who has the burden of proof for proving un/lawful arrest?
The police must prove their arrest to be lawful
Who has the burden of proof for dis/proving excessive force?
The complainant must prove that a lawful arrest used excessive force.
PACE s.117 and CLA 1967 s.3?
Reasonable force may be used to effect an arrest.
PACE s. 28(1)?
When a person is arrested without knowledge the arrest is unlawful unless informed of being under arrest as soon as practicable afterwards.
PACE s.28(2)?
PACE s.28(1) applies even if the fact of arrest is obvious.
PACE s.28(3)?
An arrest is unlawful if suspect is not informed of the grounds of their arrest immediately or as soon as practicable - even if it is obvious (s. 28(4))
What legal things must somebody under arrest be told?
why the arrest was deemed necessary, that they are under arrest and on what grounds.
What factual things must someone under arrest be told?
They must be informed of the nature of the suspected offence and when and where it took place.
Christie v Leachinsky [1947]?
Arresting officers may not lead a person to think they are being arrested for one offence when in truth the officer wishes to arrest them for another.
Miller [2007]?
Failure to administer a caution at point of arrest notification doesn’t render the arrest unlawful but can lead to exclusion of evidence.
Code G para 4.1?
Nature and circumstances of the offence, why it was necessary, caution and any comments must be recorded by arresting officer.
PACE s. 30(1-2)?
When a person is arrested outside a station the constable must usually take them to a station as soon as practicable.
PACE s.30(1) and (10A)?
An arrested person’s bail or transport to a station may be delayed when their presence is required to carry out immediate investigations.
PACE s.30(7-7A)?
A constable who is satisfied that there are no grounds to keep someone arrested must release that person.
What is an exception to the obligation to take the suspect to a station after their arrest?
An arrested person MAY be released with or without bail to attend a station at a later date.
PACE s.30A(3B)?
If someone is released on bail, conditions may be imposed to secure surrender, prevent further offences or interference with witnesses or obstruction of justice or person’s protection.
When may a constable release a person on bail after arrest?
If they’re satisfied that releasing the person is necessary and proportionate in the circumstances.
PACE s.24?
Contains police powers of arrest without warrant (subject to necessity)
PACE s.24A?
Civilian powers of arrest. These are confined to indictable offences and are subject to necessity.
PACE s.24(1)(a)?
A constable may arrest without a warrant anyone who is about to commit an offence.
PACE 1984, s. 24(1)(b)?
A constable may arrest without warrant anyone who is in the act of committing an offence.