NCJ Number
137363
Date Published
1992
Length
29 pages
Annotation
Responses to questions raised by England's Royal Commission on Criminal Justice are presented that deal with police malpractice, scientific or expert evidence, powers of the court of appeal, and the conduct of police investigations.
Abstract
The Royal Commission on Criminal Justice was appointed because of growing concern about certain cases involving Irish Republican Army terrorist activities in which defendants were wrongly convicted and imprisoned. Consequently, the commission is concerned with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act of 1984 and police codes of practice with regard to confessions, appeals, and police questioning procedures. The commission is also concerned with scientific or expert evidence, particular differences between scientific and legal approaches to questions of proof. With regard to the court of appeal, it is suggested that its powers be more broadly defined and less cautiously applied. In addition, it is recommended that an independent review body be created with the power to investigate cases referred to it by the Home Office. Specific responses to 83 questions posed on the conduct of police investigations are presented.