§ 17. Mr. Coombsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces in England and Wales are introducing the tape recording of police interviews with suspects.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe intention is that tape-recording interviews with suspects in police stations, except for the most minor offence, should become standard practice for all police forces in England and Wales by 1991. To date, 34 out of the 43 police forces in England and Wales have been given grant-aid to prepare and equip interview rooms for tape recording.
32. Mr. Andy Stewartasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has made any assessment of the effectiveness of tape recording of police questioning of suspects; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggTape recording of police interviews with suspects has been the subject of field trials which have been monitored by the Home Office research and planning unit under the direction of a national steering committee, including representatives of the judiciary and the legal profession as well as the Home Office and the police. The unit will publish a second report on the trials shortly. In the meantime, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave earlier today in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Stirling (Mr. Forsyth).
§ 47. Mr. Andrew MacKayasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the most recent progress of trials for the tape recordings of police interviews with suspects.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe two-year field trials, which were held in five police force areas to test equipment and procedures, ended last year. The trials were monitored and evaluated by the Home Office research and planning unit. A further report about this will be published shortly. In the meantime, we have already announced that the intention is that tape recording of interviews with suspects in police stations should become standard police practice by 1991.