§ Mr. Roebuckasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the standing instructions issued to officers of the Metropolitan Police regarding the steps to be taken to inform parents when juveniles are detained upon suspicion of having committed offences.
§ Mr. Elystan MorganThe standing instructions repeat the administrative direction annexed to the Judges' Rules that, as far as practicable, children (whether suspected of a crime or not) should be interviewed only in the presence of a parent or guardian. The effect is that the police seek to contact parents at the earliest possible opportunity.