§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress the Chief Constable has made in circulating a new directive to cover the role of police and defence lawyers based on the UN Declaration on the role of lawyers; how many copies have been printed; by what means the directive has been distributed; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [29781]
§ Jane KennedyThe Police Service of Northern Ireland have been engaged in a consultative process on a new direction covering the role of police and defence lawyers. The direction will draw on a range of sources including the Police and Criminal Evidence (NI) Order 1989, Codes of Practice created under the Order, the Human Rights Act 2000 and the UN Declaration.
It is hoped to issue the direction in the near future. A decision will be made at that time about the extent of publication.