HL Deb 20 December 1982 vol 437 cc911-2WA
Lord Gardiner

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in those cases in which the police have hypnotised witnesses for the prosecution, the defence has been informed that the witnesses have been hypnotised.

Lord Elton

This information is not available centrally. It is understood that police hypnotism is a rare measure of last resort, used primarily as an aid to investigation rather than as a means to secure informa- tion for use as evidence in court. As I said in reply to a question from the noble Lord on 2nd December (col. 1392), the question of advance notification to the defence of evidence gained by hypnosis is a matter which will be covered in the guidance to the police which my right honourable friend the Home Secretary now has under consideration.