M.P. wants clearer detention law

Press, 25 September 1989, Page 3

M.P. wants clearer detention law

By

BRENDON BURNS

in Wellington

Parliament must urgently consider whether to give the police power to detain suspects without arresting them, says the Opposition Justice spokesman, Mr Paul East. His call follows comments from the president of the Court of Appeal, Sir Robin Cooke, that the police are ignoring the rules for questioning suspects and so putting convictions at risk.

In a judgment last week, Sir Robin warned the police that fully-justified convictions could be put in jeopardy if the law relating to detaining and questioning suspects was disregarded.

Mr East said yesterday that Sir Robin had issued a challenge to Parliament to consider the issue.

He said M.P.s had a responsibility to clarify the law and update it where necessary.

“In particular, Parliament must consider whether there is a need to give the police power to detain suspects for questioning without actually making an arrest,” he said. Homicides and other serious criminal offences were often committed by hardened professional criminals. Such offenders were often well aware of their rights and very unlikely to. volunteer information to the police. “Parliament must weigh up

whether the dramatic increase in such offending justifies interfering with the rights of citizens to the extent that they may be detained without arrest,” said Mr East.

Giving the police such powers may result in more violent criminals being convicted.

Mr East said it would be tragic if thugs were to have convictions quashed on procedural grounds when their guilt was obvious.