Statutory Instruments
2003 No. 705
POLICE, ENGLAND AND WALES
The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Codes of Practice) (Code E) Order 2003
Made
13th March 2003
Laid before Parliament
14th March 2003
Coming into force
1st April 2003
Whereas the Secretary of State, in pursuance of section 60(1)(a) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984( 1 ), issued a code of practice in connection with the tape-recording of interviews of persons suspected of the commission of criminal offences which are held by police officers at police stations;
And whereas the Secretary of State, in pursuance of section 67(4) of that Act, by order( 2 ) brought that code into operation on 29th July 1988 and has subsequently revised it;
And whereas the Secretary of State, in pursuance of section 60(1)(b) of that Act, by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Tape-recording of Interviews) (No. 1) Order 1991( 3 ) and by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Tape-recording of Interviews) (No. 2) Order 1992( 4 ) required the tape recording of interviews of persons specified in those Orders in accordance with the code;
Now, therefore, in pursuance of section 60(1)(b) of that Act, the Secretary of State hereby orders as follows:
1. This Order may be cited as the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Codes of Practice) (Code E) Order 2003 and shall come into force on 1st April 2003.
2. This Order shall apply to interviews of persons suspected of the commission of indictable offences which are held by police officers at police stations and which commence after midnight on 31st March 2003.
3. β(1) Subject to paragraph (2) below, interviews to which this Order applies shall be tape-recorded in accordance with the requirements of the code of practice on tape-recording which came into operation on 29th July 1988 as it has effect for the time being.
(2) The duty to tape-record interviews under paragraph (1) above shall not apply to interviews where the person is detained under Schedule 7 to, or section 41 of, the Terrorism Act 2000( 5 ).
4. The following Orders are hereby revokedβ
(a) the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Tape-recording of Interviews) (No. 1) Order 1991;
(b) the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Tape-recording of Interviews) (No. 2) Order 1992; and
(c) the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Tape-recording of Interviews) (Amendment) Order 2001( 6 ).
John Denham
Minister of State
Home Office
13th March 2003