ianstone
08-01-2010, 04:48 PM
Police banned from putting suspects in blue boiler suits - because of their human rights
By James Tozer (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=y&authornamef=James+Tozer)
Last updated at 6:36 PM on 1st August 2010
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http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/08/01/article-1299425-0AA79476000005DC-361_233x301.jpg 'Oppressive': A police force has stopped using blue boiler suits in case they infringe on suspects' human rights
Police officers have been banned from ordering suspects to change into blue boiler suits - in case it infringes their human rights.
Instead, they are being encouraged to fetch clean clothes from the suspected criminal's own home so they can feel more comfortable while in the cells.
The new rules - introduced by Greater Manchester Police after fears that the garments could be deemed 'oppressive' - were exposed by a whistle-blowing chief inspector.
Normally when a suspect is taken into custody, their clothing may be taken away if it is needed for forensic examination, and they are given a blue paper boiler suit instead.
However the force's custody sergeants have been told that detainees must be given the opportunity to wear their own clothes while they await questioning.
If a relative of the suspect cannot bring in a preferred outfit, an officer can be dispatched to pick one out. Failing that, the alleged offender can be given a white tracksuit.
'The blue boiler suits have been banned for some time because of Human Rights,' said the unnamed chief inspector. 'Giving a detainee the traditional outfit could be deemed offensive, apparently.
'It's one thing to treat a suspect appropriately and with dignity - but it’s another to go out on a limb to give them a cushy experience in custody.
'It's almost worth being a criminal.'
The new 'best practice' guidelines have been issued in the past few months and are not official Home Office rules.
The force, which employs 8,232 officers, brought in the new procedure during the last few months.
The police blue boiler suits are made out of paper and handed to suspects when they arrive at custody suites in police stations if their clothing needs to be seized for forensic examination.
Under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 all suspects have to be dealt with quickly, fairly and 'without oppression' while in custody.
However, individual forces are free to introduce their own 'best practice' rules of procedure.
Officers cannot require anyone to remove clothing in public - except their outer jacket, coat or gloves.
Police do have a duty to seize belts, ties and shoelaces where they believe the arrested person is at risk of harming themselves in their cell.
Clothing can also be seized as evidence and must be removed if it is soiled, wet or contaminated.
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: 'The blue boiler suits are no longer used by the force and, where possible, arrangements will be made to collect clothes from the homes of suspects.
'This may be family members bringing them in or they may be collected. We are also able to issue white tracksuits.
'The force is following best practice guidelines.'
Last year the Daily Mail told how suspects were being given hotel-style questionnaires to rate how they had been looked after following a night in the cells.
Questions asked as part of a pilot scheme by Devon and Cornwall Constabulary included whether they received suitable food and drink, if they felt safe during their incarceration, and what the lighting in their cell was like.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1299425/Police-banned-putting-suspects-blue-boiler-suits--human-rights.html#ixzz0vOCXwLwl
By James Tozer (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=y&authornamef=James+Tozer)
Last updated at 6:36 PM on 1st August 2010
Comments (0) (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1299425/Police-banned-putting-suspects-blue-boiler-suits--human-rights.html#comments)
Add to My Stories (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1299425/Police-banned-putting-suspects-blue-boiler-suits--human-rights.html)
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/08/01/article-1299425-0AA79476000005DC-361_233x301.jpg 'Oppressive': A police force has stopped using blue boiler suits in case they infringe on suspects' human rights
Police officers have been banned from ordering suspects to change into blue boiler suits - in case it infringes their human rights.
Instead, they are being encouraged to fetch clean clothes from the suspected criminal's own home so they can feel more comfortable while in the cells.
The new rules - introduced by Greater Manchester Police after fears that the garments could be deemed 'oppressive' - were exposed by a whistle-blowing chief inspector.
Normally when a suspect is taken into custody, their clothing may be taken away if it is needed for forensic examination, and they are given a blue paper boiler suit instead.
However the force's custody sergeants have been told that detainees must be given the opportunity to wear their own clothes while they await questioning.
If a relative of the suspect cannot bring in a preferred outfit, an officer can be dispatched to pick one out. Failing that, the alleged offender can be given a white tracksuit.
'The blue boiler suits have been banned for some time because of Human Rights,' said the unnamed chief inspector. 'Giving a detainee the traditional outfit could be deemed offensive, apparently.
'It's one thing to treat a suspect appropriately and with dignity - but it’s another to go out on a limb to give them a cushy experience in custody.
'It's almost worth being a criminal.'
The new 'best practice' guidelines have been issued in the past few months and are not official Home Office rules.
The force, which employs 8,232 officers, brought in the new procedure during the last few months.
The police blue boiler suits are made out of paper and handed to suspects when they arrive at custody suites in police stations if their clothing needs to be seized for forensic examination.
Under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 all suspects have to be dealt with quickly, fairly and 'without oppression' while in custody.
However, individual forces are free to introduce their own 'best practice' rules of procedure.
Officers cannot require anyone to remove clothing in public - except their outer jacket, coat or gloves.
Police do have a duty to seize belts, ties and shoelaces where they believe the arrested person is at risk of harming themselves in their cell.
Clothing can also be seized as evidence and must be removed if it is soiled, wet or contaminated.
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: 'The blue boiler suits are no longer used by the force and, where possible, arrangements will be made to collect clothes from the homes of suspects.
'This may be family members bringing them in or they may be collected. We are also able to issue white tracksuits.
'The force is following best practice guidelines.'
Last year the Daily Mail told how suspects were being given hotel-style questionnaires to rate how they had been looked after following a night in the cells.
Questions asked as part of a pilot scheme by Devon and Cornwall Constabulary included whether they received suitable food and drink, if they felt safe during their incarceration, and what the lighting in their cell was like.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1299425/Police-banned-putting-suspects-blue-boiler-suits--human-rights.html#ixzz0vOCXwLwl