Written question asked by Madeleine Moon (Labour) on Wednesday, 21 January 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 26 January 2009. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Tuesday, 24 February 2009 on behalf of the Home Office.

Appropriate Adults

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what progress has been made in her Department's review of the role of appropriate adults; and when the new guidance on the matter is expected to be published;

Answer: [holding answers 26 January 2009 and 2 February 2009]: Code of Practice C for the Detention, treatment and questioning of persons by police officers issued under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984 requires that if an officer has any suspicion, or is told in good faith, that a person of any age may be mentally disordered or otherwise mentally vulnerable, or mentally incapable of understanding the significance of questions or replies that person shall be treated as mentally disordered or otherwise mentally vulnerable. In those circumstances, an appropriate adult must be called. The Review of PACE, published in August 2008 as a public consultation document, contained proposals on the role, training and use of appropriate adults.We intend to publish the summary of responses to the consultation paper in March 2009.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 488 c671W; 251193
Session: 2008-09
Related items: Appropriate Adults
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
Written questions
House of Commons
Transferred: Yes
Subjects: Police interrogation Appropriate adults
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk