HC Deb 02 February 1961 vol 633 c151W
85. Mrs. Braddock

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take powers to make it obligatory for the police to supply to the legal adviser of an accused person, immediately on request, a copy of any statement alleged to have been made by such person to the police whether or not the matter has been referred by the police force in question to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Mr. R. A. Butler

No. It is the practice of the police to supply on request to the legal representative of an accused person a copy of any statement that he may have made, except in the rare cases in which, in the opinion of the chief officer of police, there are good reasons for thinking that to comply with the request would impede the course of justice. It is for the Director of Public Prosecutions to consider any such request where he is responsible for the prosecution.