Supreme Court Considers Scots Law on Police Detention Powers
25th May 2010
The UK Supreme Court today begins hearing a human rights appeal that challenges the lack of a right to a lawyer when detained by the police in Scotland. As the law now stands, the police may detain a suspect for questioning for up to six hours without legal advice. Some critics say this breaches the European Convention on Human Rights, particularly Article 6, the right to a fair trial.
The case Is brought by Peter Cadder, a Scotsman who was convicted of assault partly for answers he gave in police interview before legal advice.
Last year the Scottish Criminal Appeal ...