Michael Zander argues for a delay in the national roll-out of police station legal advice changes
The provision of free legal advice to suspects in the police station is one of the most important safeguards for the suspect, and is used by some 750,000 people per year—roughly half of those arrested.
The new scheme now being piloted in three areas, redirecting requests for a detainee’s own solicitor from the Defence Solicitor Call Centre (DSCC) to CDS Direct, is a threat not only to existing links between suspects and their lawyers but to the wellbeing of the system.
Tony McNulty, the home office minister, stated in Parliament that national roll-out of the new system would take place on 21 April but that roll-out could be postponed if that was necessary to deal with problems (House of Commons Delegated Legislation Committee, 21 January 2008, cols 10–11). Both the time frame and the method of the evaluation are inadequate.
THE EXISTING SYSTEM
Around three-fifths of suspects ask for their own solicitor. Until now, if the suspect asked for his own solicitor,
