§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in what circumstances police officers, while questioning a person at a police station, are permitted to allow such persons to take drugs or medicines of any sort, including tranquillisers; and what record of the taking of such drugs or medicines the police are obliged to keep;
(2) in what circumstances police officers are entitled to administer sedatives to persons held for questioning at a police station, and in circumstances where it is felt that a sedative is needed, whose prior permission the police need to seek; and if there is a provision to ensure that any person given such a sedative has to be informed that he has been given it, and that details of its administration are noted on any statements which that person may subsequently make.
§ Mr. BrittanThe police are not permitted to administer drugs, or to allow a person in custody to take medication, except under the direction of a qualified medical practitioner. The Home Office consolidated circular to the police on crime and kindred matters, a copy of which is available in the Library, contains the specific advice that a doctor should always be summoned if there is the slightest suspicion that a prisoner may be ill. A record of his diagnosis and of any medication which he may prescribe is made in the doctor's report book kept at every police station. There 361W is no requirement to record the information on any statement which the prisoner may subsequently make.