§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances persons who have been detained for questioning by the police can be refused access to their solicitors.
§ Mr. BrittanThe Judges Rules set out the principle that a person in police custody should be able to communicate and consult privately with a solicitor, provided that no unreasonable delay or hinderance is caused to the processes of investigation or the administration of justice by his doing so. Paragraph 7 of the administrative directions appended to the rules states that, subject to a similar proviso, a person in custody should be allowed to speak on the telephone to his solicitor.