Mr. John Mark Taylorasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the workings so far of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 with regard to overnight detainees at police stations.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 provides the police with power to detain without charge persons suspected of an offence. The period of detention is restricted to a maximum of 24 hours or, in the case of serious offences, 36 hours. persons are detained overnight they must be permitted a period of eight hours rest and provided with refreshment. After charge, a person who is detained in police custody must be brought before a magistrate's court as soon as practicable, in accordance with section 46 of the Act. All detained persons have a right to consult a solicitor and the 24-hour duty solicitor scheme aims to ensure that, for persons who wish to do so, a solicitor may be consulted outside normal working hours.
145WI am not aware of the Act having created any problems with regard to the overnight detention of suspects in police stations, but if my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind I shall look into it if he lets me have the details.