§ Mr. George Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the chief constable concerned about the discrepancy between the description by one of his officers of the treatment of prisoners in a police station in an article in the magazine, "Police", details of which have been sent to him, and the subsequent comment by the deputy chief constable; and if he will lay the report before the House;
(2) if he will appoint a Home Office investigator to examine the custodial and interrogation procedures described in Inspector Robinson's article in the magazine, "Police", details of which have been sent to him, and to advise on their legality.
§ Mr. SharplesA report has been called for, and I shall write to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. George Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is the practice of the police to refuse to allow a prisoner in a police station to keep his watch.
§ Mr. SharplesPolice practice depends on the circumstances. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind. I shall look into it.
§ Mr. George Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were held in 202W Metropolitan police stations for more than one night from time of arrest to release or transfer to a remand centre or prison during 1970; and if he will call for a report from chief constables giving similar information in respect of police stations elsewhere, and lay the information before the House.
§ Mr. SharplesI regret that the information is not readily available. My right hon. Friend is not persuaded of the need to make the general inquiry which is suggested.
§ Mr. George Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from all chief constables as to the number of police stations in which prisoners are subjected to the isolation techniques described in an article by Inspector J. Robinson in the current issue of the magazine, "Police", details of which have been sent to him; and if he will publish this information.
§ Mr. SharplesOn present information, my right hon. Friend does not feel justified in doing so.
§ Mr. George Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will amend Home Office Circular Number 34 of 1964 to make clear to police authorities that they should not place prisoners in isolation with a view to inducing them to provide information.
§ Mr. SharplesThis Circular has no relevance to this issue. I think that the hon. Member must have in mind Circular No. 31/1964 with which chief officers of police were sent the Judges' Rules and Administrative Directions to the Police. My right hon. Friend has no reason for thinking that there is any need to alter it in the sense suggested by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. George Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in the light of Inspector J. Robinson's article in the current issue of the magazine, "Police", details of which have been sent to him, whether he is satisfied that prisoners in police stations are given access to a telephone and to a legal adviser; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. SharplesI am sure that the Judges' Rule and Administrative Directions to the Police are well observed. They provide for a person in custody to be allowed to speak on the telephone to his solicitor or to his friends provided that no hindrance is reasonably likely to be caused to the processes of investigation or the administration of justice by his doing so.