HC Deb 29 October 1996 vol 284 c59W
Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will identify the research referred to in his speech to the Conservative party conference which indicates that the number of suspects refusing to answer questions has nearly halved; and if he will place a copy of the research in the Library. [904]

Mr. Maclean

The research to which my right hon. and learned Friend referred is emerging findings from a wider study by the Home Office research and statistics directorate which looked at the implementation of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. Data collected from a sample of cases from eight police stations around the country found that during interview suspects responded to questions from the police as follows:

Per cent.
1993–94 1995–96
All questions answered 75 84
Some questions answered align="right">14 10
No questions answered 11 6

A report of this study has not yet been published but is currently being prepared with a view to publication next spring, when a copy will be placed in the Library.