Interrogation in Britain
While telling us of the British system of Interrogation during our training program at National Police Academy at Hyderabad, one of their officers told us that whenever any person is arrested in England today, the first thing they do is to let them know the reason for their arrest. This is followed by asking them if they have a solicitor of their own or they want a solicitor free of cost. If they ask so, the arrested persons are provided one such solicitor from the empanelled list. They are also asked if they want any other kind of legal advice. If the accused is below the age of 17, immediately they are asked to call their guardian which includes their father and/or mother. If it is a case of murder, the accused is immediately sent for psychiatric examination to ascertain if the person is mentally ill. This serves two purposes- if the person is mentally ill, it provides a reason for his criminal conduct, if not so then it eliminates their right to such defence later on.
When the British police officers talk to the accused, they call it Interview and not "Interrogation". They find the word interrogation a bit too authoritative and value-loaded. Before the interview, the accused are told about their legal rights about the evidence being used against them and hence their right to silence.
They begin the interview by tape-recording it where a new tape is inserted in the tape-recorder where both the parties sign it. At the time of interview, there are minimum of two police officers, the accused, the solicitor. Two cassettes of the tape are used and when the interview is over, one tape is handed over to the accused.
These officers neither use abuses nor beat the accused. They also don't humiliate or threaten them nor they use any third degree methods. On the contrary, there are many times when the accused go to the extent of abusing the cops or throwing water on them. There are occasions when the accused even spit on the police officers but they keep cool and go on with their duty. And despite no abuses, no accusations, no threats, no third-degree the British police is able to register a very high degree of conviction (around 80%). Any lessons for Indian police here?
Amitabh
# 94155-34526 amitabhth@yahoo.com, amitabhthakurlko@gmail.com
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