Your current rights:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/60/contents
But these will probably be changed shortly as jolly old Ken Clarke has tabled a motion announcing that the UK is opting out of an EU directive guaranteeing access to a lawyer upon arrest. In other words, if you are arrested today you are automatically entitled to free advice from a solicitor paid courtesy of the legal aid scheme. The new bill scraps the automatic right to a legally aided lawyer to advise suspects in the police station. If the proposals are introduced, suspects will face a means test before qualifying for public funds, while the bill allows for the extension of telephone, as opposed to face-to-face, advice. The bill was apparently removed from Parliaments website but can still be found here...
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/60/contents
But these will probably be changed shortly as jolly old Ken Clarke has tabled a motion announcing that the UK is opting out of an EU directive guaranteeing access to a lawyer upon arrest. In other words, if you are arrested today you are automatically entitled to free advice from a solicitor paid courtesy of the legal aid scheme. The new bill scraps the automatic right to a legally aided lawyer to advise suspects in the police station. If the proposals are introduced, suspects will face a means test before qualifying for public funds, while the bill allows for the extension of telephone, as opposed to face-to-face, advice. The bill was apparently removed from Parliaments website but can still be found here...
Comment