§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make inquiries to ascertain the extent to which detaining people for interview is normal practice in major inquiries; and if he will obtain and publish the regulations which have been issued to the police regarding detention for questioning.
§ Mr. CarlislePolice practice about questioning, whether of persons voluntarily assisting them or of persons under arrest, is governed by the Judges' Rules and Administrative Directions to the Police, which were issued to all chief officers of police in England and Wales and published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in 1964. No distinction is made between major and other inquiries. The police are aware that action taken by them in any individual case may affect the admissibility of evidence and that this is a matter for the courts.