Questioning

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The questioning of those suspected of committing a crime is one of the most crucial parts of the investigation process. An admission at the interrogation stage can be vital to the prosecution case and one of the primary grounds for detention without charge at the police station is for the sole purpose of obtaining evidence by questioning.

There are two types of interviews:

  1. •

    those governed by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE 1984) and its Codes of Practice, and

  2. •

    those conducted under the Criminal Justice Act 1987 (CJA 1987)

Interviews under PACE 1984

An interview is defined in the PACE 1984 Codes of Practice as the questioning of a person regarding their involvement or suspected involvement in a criminal offence that must be carried out under caution.

Interviews are normally conducted at the police station. The PACE 1984 Codes of Practice expressly state that once a decision has been made to arrest a person, they must not be interviewed about the offence except at a police station. There are some exceptions. For example, a person can be interviewed outside a

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