§ Mr. Arthur Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what policy is pursued with regard to the bolding of suspects in police custody for mere than forty-eight hours before being brought before the courts.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesSection 38(1) of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1952 requires the police, unless the offence appears to them to be serious, to release on bail a person taken into custody for an offence without a warrant, if it will not be practicable to bring him before a magistrates' court within 24 hours; section 38(4) of the Act requires them to bring a person who is retained in custody before a magistrates' court as soon as practicable. It is for the police, and ultimately the courts, to apply these provisions in the circumstances of a particular case. The holding of suspects in police custody is a matter which falls within the terms of reference of the Royal Commission on Criminal Procedure.