§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on tape recording statements; and how soon he expects all statements made to the police by suspects to be tape recorded.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggFollowing the completion of successful field trials last year, my right hon. Friend indicated his desire to see tape recording introduced on a nationwide basis by 1991. Provision has been made in the police capital works programme to enable forces to undertake necessary building work and to purchase appropriate equipment. The need to carry out such work, to provide some further training for the officers who will do the interviewing and to ensure that local arrangements are introduced when other agencies in the criminal justice system are also ready for them, requires that this introduction should be phased. I understand that in a number of force areas, the tape recording of interviews is already taking place in accordance with locally agreed arrangements and that it is working well.