Guide to the police and criminal evidence act 1984

The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 received the Royal Assent on 31 October 1984. It is the first legislative attempt to define com prehensively the investigative powers of the police and it also contains significant changes in the laws of evidence for criminal trials. Its passage through Parliament attracted considerable controversy. It will have far-reaching consequences for the investigation of crime and for the style of policing well into the next century. This book is intended as a practical guide for those affected by the Act.

At the time of going to press, the Codes of Practice which supplement the Act had not been finalised. The latest drafts of the Codes are therefore used in the Appendices. They are unlikely to change much by the final draft. The draft Codes are Crown Copyright and are reproduced with the kind permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

The authors wish to acknowledge the extremely helpful comments of Professor H K Bevan of the University of Hull, who kindly agreed to read the draft manuscript, the considerable typing feats of Mrs Jean Hopewell and the patience and encouragement of the publishers.