Lawyer publishes ‘police manual’

Press, 24 September 1987, Page 44

Lawyer publishes ‘police manual’

PA Auckland An Auckland lawyer, Mr Christopher Harder, has published his own version of the Police Manual and made it available to other lawyers to inform them of police interrogation techniques. His publication manual is described on the cover as "a policeman’s manual when you are not in possession of a policeman’s manual,” the Auckland “Sun” reported. It also promises "a look inside a policeman’s head,” "interrogation techniques” and advises it is to be used as a guide only in preparing cross-examination. Mr Harder said it was algainst the law to possess a real Police Manual, and the law should be changed. He did not believe he had broken the law because the document he used for his book was a photocopy of an alleged

old training manual and had no identification marks. Written statements obtained by the police could be "devastating” evidence against an accused person, he said. “It is important that lawyers know how policemen are meant to think in the techniques of obtaining written statements,” Mr Harder said. He said the manual showed the police were taught to use subtle suggestions to obtain information. “They (police) have a job to do, but defence counsel also have a job to do,” he said. Methods to obtain evidence must be fair and not underhand. Lawyers should be able to use the “police manual” to see that the police followed their own guidelines, he said.