A most bizarre interpretation of PACE has led to an urgent review by the government of police detention powers.
Professor Zander had described the High Court decision in Hookway as a ‘disaster for the police’. The Government have proposed emergency legislation in order to provide assurance to the police that they could continue to operate on the same basis, regarding bail, as they have for the last 25 years.
The irony of this in the week when the Bill to reform Legal Aid was rushed through it’s first reading is not lost on criminal defence lawyers.