Page:Rules and Directions for the Questioning of Suspects and the Taking of Statements.pdf/6

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In addition to the records required by these Rules, full records of the following matters should additionally be kept:—
 * (i) of the time or times at which cautions were given, and
 * (ii) of the time when a charge was made and/or the person was arrested, and
 * (iii) of the matters referred to in paragraph 1(b) above.

If two or more police officers are present when the questions are being put or the statement made, the records made should be countersigned by the other officers present.

3. Interviews at police station

When a suspect is questioned in a police station, or other premises affording reasonable privacy and facilities for interview, a contemporaneous record must be made of all interviews conducted there.

4. Comfort and refreshment

Reasonable arrangements should be made for the comfort and refreshment of persons being questioned. Whenever practicable both the person being questioned or making a statement and the officers asking the questions or taking the statement should be seated.

5. Interrogation of children and young persons

So far as practicable, children and young persons under the age of 16 years (whether suspected of crime or not) should only be interviewed in the presence of a parent or guardian, or, in their absence, some person who is not a police officer and is of the same sex as the child. A child or young person should not be arrested, or even interviewed, at school if such action can possibly be avoided. Where it is found essential to conduct the interview at school, this should be done only with the consent, and in the presence, of the head teacher, or his nominee.

6. Statements in languages other than English

In the case of a person making a statement or answering questions in a language other than English:—
 * (a) Whenever possible all interviews should be conducted in the mother tongue of the suspect unless he chooses, or consents, to use another language in which he is obviously proficient.
 * (b) The statement or record of interview should be recorded in the language used by the person making the statement or answering the questions.