Reliable Evidence, Fairly Obtained (From Police: Powers, Procedures and Proprieties, P 268-278, 1986, John Benyon and Colin Bourn, eds. -- See NCJ-158031)

• NCJ Number: 158055
• Author(s): P Sieghart
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 11 pages
• Sale Source: Pergamon Press Limited
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

England's Police and Criminal Evidence Act of 1984 is analyzed in terms of fairly obtaining reliable evidence in police criminal investigations and sanctions against the abuse of police powers.

Abstract

The principal concern of the author is police compliance with provisions of the act. He discusses citizen complaints against the police, the importance of positive police-community relations, sanctions to ensure police compliance with the act, the exclusionary rule, search warrants, judicial discretion, and evidence admissibility in courts. The author notes that courts may refuse to allow evidence on which the prosecution proposes to rely if it appears that circumstances in which the evidence was obtained would have an adverse effect on fairness of the proceedings. Finally, the author discusses the legislative process involved in developing and implementing the Police and Criminal Evidence Act.