Suspects not getting legal advice

A new report by JUSTICE Scotland concludes that suspects and solicitors need a better understanding of the importance of legal assistance during police detention.

The report, Legal Assistance in the Police Station, says around 70 per cent of suspects continue to waive the right to assistance, seven years after it was introduced by the Cadder case in the Supreme Court.

And only around 25 per cent of those who request assistance receive it in person, as opposed to over the telephone.

In 17 recommendations, the report calls for “clear and simple information, communicating the rights available to suspects in a way they will understand”, and personal assistance by solicitors as standard.

You can read the full report here:

https://justice.org.uk/justice-scotland/our-work/legal-advice-waiver-police-detention/

 

 

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