POLICE INTERVIEWING AND LEGAL REPRESENTATION - A FIELD-STUDY

This paper outlines the findings of an analysis of 161 audiotaped poli ce interviews with suspects detained at two London police stations. In particular it examines the extent to which suspects exercise their ri ght to silence, the role of the solicitor within the interview and whe ther or not a confession was made. A legal adviser was present in 56% of the cases, the highest recorded figure to date. Qualified solicitor s accounted for 24% of this figure with legal representatives making u p the remaining 32%. Whilst the majority of suspects chose to answer a ll police questions highly significant relationships were found betwee n the presence of a legal adviser and (1) a suspect's decision to exer cise the right to silence and (2) a suspect's decision not to confess. A confession or admission was made in 58% of the cases. The finding t hat the number of confessions made in interview has remained relativel y stable over the last decade (despite an increase in legal advice and a decrease in manipulative police tactics) is discussed. This study e ncountered considerable difficulty in determining the actual status of the legal adviser.