HC Deb 19 September 2003 vol 410 c1223W
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the time needed to conclude the investigative process and charge a detained person. [130430]

Ms Blears

The Report of the joint Cabinet Office/Home Office Review of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs/pacereview2002.pdf) published in November 2002 recommended that the existing maximum detention period of 24 hours without charge for an arrestable offence was insufficient and should be extended to 36 hours. The police provided the Review with supporting evidence on difficulties associated with the 24-hour detention period. The extended period would enable investigations being completed more effectively and avoid the investigative process to be rushed to the detriment of either the suspect or the criminal justice system or both. The provision is included at Clause 5 to the Criminal Justice Bill currently before Parliament.

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