HC Deb 01 March 1989 vol 148 c182W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to his correspondence with the hon. Member for Leyton concerning Mr. Eamonn John Wadley, if he will name the doctors who decided that he could be interrogated; if he will direct them to explain their reasons for disagreeing with Mr. Wadley's private doctor and the police surgeon who regarded such interrogation as not suitable because of Mr. Wadley's state of health; why they made their decision after Mr. Wadley's doctor and the police surgeon had left the scene; and if he will make a statement on his policy towards interrogation of individuals with a history of recurrent mental illness.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 lays down a statutory procedure for investigating complaints against police. Under this procedure it is open to Mr. Wadley to make a complaint, or for anyone else to do so on his behalf, if he considers that there was misconduct on the part of a police officer during the time he spent in police custody.

Guidance to the police on interviewing suspects who are mentally ill or mentally handicapped is contained in the code of practice for the Detention, treatment and questioning of persons by police officers, issued in accordance with the 1984 Act.

Forward to