HC Deb 26 April 1922 vol 153 cc554-5
43. Major GODFREY PALMER

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the remarks made by the Lord Chief Justice when giving the decision of the Appeal Court in the case of Rex v. Alfred Pilley on 10th April regarding the methods adopted by the police to get a confession or admission from prisoners; whether these methods are still being used; and, if so, whether he will take steps to prevent the police in future from using methods characterised by the Lord Chief Justice as most reprehensible?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Shortt)

Instructions to the police with regard to interrogation of suspected persons are contained in a memorandum which was approved by His Majesty's Judges of the King's Bench Division. Strict orders are given to the police to follow carefully those instructions. The Lord Chief Justice is reported to have said that if the procedure suggested had been followed by the police it was most reprehensible. I have made careful inquiry and am satisfied that no such procedure was followed, but that the police adhered to the instructions in the memorandum.