Interviews Flashcards
Who Will Give
Consent?
Adults aged 18 or over - the suspect
Turned 14
but still under 18 - Both
the suspect
and
their parent or guardian.
Under 14 - Parent or guardian
only.
INTERVIEWS IN A NUTSHELL
- The questioning of a person
regarding their:
*Involvement;
*Suspected involvement; - In a criminal offence(s) that
must be carried out under
caution.
Failure to caution — exclusion likely
Basis Of Suspicion?
Suspicion must be based on
objective facts
Fox v United Kingdom
Suspicion cannot be based
upon a hunch
Batley v DPP
TIMING OF ADMINISTERING A CAUTION
UPON SUSPICION
Once a suspicion arises the cautioning must take place before any questions are put to the suspect in respect of the offence.
It is necessary to administer a caution before asking any further questions once there are grounds to suspect that a person has committed an offence.
The point of forming the suspicion is key - up until the point of suspicion there is no need to administer a caution prior to asking questions.
REASONABLE SUSPICION
AN OBJECTIVE TEST
The case of Fox v United Kingdom [1990] 13 EHRR 157, which stated that the formulation of a reasonable suspicion must be based upon objective facts or information that would lead an observer to conclude that the person may have committed the offence.
The case of R v Smith [2001] 1 WLR 1031, reaffirmed the decision in Fox confirming that establishing a reasonable suspicion is an objective test and that an honest belief by a constable was of itself insufficient.
A mere hunch will also be insufficient to form the basis of suspicion - Batley v DPP [1998] The Times 5th March.
ALCOHOL ON A DRIVER’S BREATH AND REASONABLE SUSPICION
FOCUS ON THE POINT AT WHICH SUSPICION ARISES - FOLLOWING THE RESULT OF A POSITIVE PRELIMINARY BREATH TEST
In the case of Ridehalgh v DPP [2005] EWHC 1100 (Admin), a BTP officer had driven to a police station whilst on duty.
Upon arrival the Custody Officer smelt alcohol on his breath. Ridehalgh was asked to confirm whether he had been drinking and whether he had driven to the police station.
At trial the issue arose as to whether he should have been cautioned prior to asking the questions.
The Administrative Court concluded that during questioning persons, there reaches a point that it may be apparent that an offence may have been committed.
However, an officer may have to pose further questions before a genuine suspicion arises that an offence has been committed – it is only once the point of actual suspicion is reached that it will be necessary to administer a caution.
At the point of posing the questions the only evidence against Ridehalgh was the smell of alcohol on his breath - there was no evidence of the volume of alcohol in his system, or indeed how he had got to the station.
Only after the preliminary breath test proved positive was there adequate evidence to form a suspicion that the offence had been committed and therefore it was only at this point that a caution needed to be administered.
WHAT EFFECT WILL A FAILURE TO CAUTION POST SUSPICION HAVE ON THE ADMISSIBILITY OF ANY SUBSEQUENT CONFESSION THAT IS MADE DURING INTERVIEW?
ANSWER:
The confession must be excluded at trial in a voire dire under section 76(2)(b) PACE 1984 - as there will have been something done (i.e. - an omission to caution) - that will have rendered the confession unreliable.
Not necessary to caution?
Situation 1
Solely to establish their
>identity; or
>ownership of any vehicle
Situation 2
In furtherance of the proper and effective conduct of a search:
>To determine the need to search;
>To seek co-operation in carrying out the search
Situation 3
To seek verification of written record in relation to an unsolicited comment
Checks Of Vehicles?
*R v McGuinness
*R v Miller
Cautions?
Standard
“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.
Modified
*You do not have to say
anything…
…but anything you do
say may be given in
evidence.
Cautions?
Standard
Caution
Always —
unless it is
not
possible to
draw
adverse
inferences
Modified
Caution
>Incommunicado delay to legal
advice
>Urgent interviews in the absence of
solicitor requested.
>Interviews in relation to the contents of
statement by another which takes
place after either:
*Charge. or
*The detainee being informed that they
will be reported for an offence.
Cautions & Appropriate Adults?
If the cautioning of either a:
Juvenile
Mentally
disordered
person
Mentally
vulnerable
person
…takes place in the absence of their appropriate
adult - the caution must subsequently be
repeated in the presence of the appropriate
adult once they are in attendance.
CAUTIONS - ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE
IS IT EVER PERMISSIBLE TO DEVIATE FROM THE EXACT WORDING OF THE CAUTION?
It is worth noting that minor deviations from the exact wording will not constitute a breach of the code – provided the sense of the caution is preserved.
CONTRASTING CAUTIONING AND SPECIAL WARNINGS
THOSE WHO REQUIRE AN APPROPRIATE ADULT
It is permissible to caution a juvenile (now under 18) or mentally disordered or vulnerable individual prior to the arrival of an appropriate adult - but that the caution must be re-administered in the presence of the appropriate adult upon their arrival.
Contrast this with the position regarding administering special warnings prior to asking a person arrested to account for the presence of objects, substances, marks or marks on an object, or for their presence at a place at or about the time of the offence for the purposes of generating adverse inferences from silence in response under sections 36 and 37 of the CJPOA 1994 (see later).
A special warning must not be administered to a juvenile or mentally disordered individual unless the appropriate adult is present.
REPEATING THE CAUTION FOLLOWING A BREAK IN INTERVIEWING
OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOLLOWING A BREAK IN INTERVIEWING
After any break in questioning under caution - the interviewing officer must when the interview resumes:
- Either remind the suspect that they remain under caution, or if in doubt – re-administer the caution in full;
- Summarise the reason for the break;
- Confirm the reason with the suspect; and
- Remind the suspect of their right to legal advice.
REPEATING THE CAUTION FOLLOWING A BREAK IN INTERVIEWING
OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOLLOWING A BREAK IN INTERVIEWING
After any break in questioning under caution - the interviewing officer must when the interview resumes:
- Either remind the suspect that they remain under caution, or if in doubt – re-administer the caution in full;
- Summarise the reason for the break;
- Confirm the reason with the suspect; and
- Remind the suspect of their right to legal advice.
RECORDING THE CAUTION
WHERE WILL THE RECORD BE MADE?
A record must be made of any caution administered in either:
- The interview record; or
- The interviewer’s pocket book.
CONFIDENTIALITY OF STATEMENTS MADE UNDER CAUTION
GENERAL RULE
The contents should only be used for the purposes of a criminal investigation and are confidential.
EXCEPTION
The contents will not be confidential when they are already in the public domain.
CAUTIONING - RECAP QUESTION 1
Will it be necessary to administer a caution to a person prior to asking a question solely to establish their identity or ownership of any vehicle?
ANSWER:
No.
CAUTIONING - RECAP QUESTION 2
Will it be to necessary administer a caution to a person prior to asking them a question that will determine whether there is any need to search them or to seek their co-operation in searching them?
ANSWER:
No.
CAUTIONING - RECAP QUESTION 3
Will it be necessary to administer a caution to a person prior to their making an unsolicited comment?
ANSWER:
No - as no suspicion will have arisen at the point at which the unsolicited comment is made, it will be unnecessary to caution at this juncture.
CAUTIONING - RECAP QUESTION 4
Which caution will be administered when interviewing a person arrested prior to charge in the presence of a solicitor requested?
ANSWER:
The standard 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.”
CAUTIONING - RECAP QUESTION 5
Which caution will be administered when interviewing a person arrested prior to charge - if they have been offered the opportunity to obtain legal advice but have declined the offer of their own volition?
ANSWER:
The standard caution.
They key point is that the suspect has been afforded the opportunity to obtain legal advice – see Murray v UK [1996] 22 EHRR 29.
If they have declined the offer of legal advice of their own free will - then the standard caution can be administered and adverse inferences can be generated in respect of silences at interview.
CAUTIONING - RECAP QUESTION 6
Which caution will be administered when interviewing a person arrested prior to charge if their right to make a telephone call to their friend has been delayed under the incommunicado provisions of Code Annex B of PACE 1984?
ANSWER:
The standard caution.
They key point is whether the suspect has been afforded the opportunity to obtain legal advice – (see Murray v UK [1996] 22 EHRR 29).
Legal advice is one of 4 rights that can be delayed under the incommunicado provisions along with the right to have somebody informed of the detainee’s whereabouts, the right to a telephone call and the right to respond to queries as to a detainee’s whereabouts - see the Detention & Treatment Of Persons module for further details.
It will it not be possible to draw an adverse inference from any silence exercised during the course of an interview when the right to legal advice is delayed and the modified caution should be administered in such circumstances.
In this scenario - one of the other rights was delayed and therefore adverse inferences can still be generated from silence and consequently the standard caution should be administered.
CAUTIONING - RECAP QUESTION 7
Which caution will be administered when interviewing a person arrested prior to charge - if their right to legal advice has been overridden under the urgent interview provisions?
ANSWER:
The modified caution.
They key point is that the suspect has not been afforded the opportunity to obtain legal advice – see Murray v UK [1996] 22 EHRR 29.
It will it not be possible to draw an adverse inference from any silence exercised during the course of an interview when the right to legal advice has been overridden in circumstances of urgency.
Consequently, the modified caution should be administered in such circumstances.