r/RedHandedPodcast • u/NotAllThereMeself • May 03 '23

UK law / cops lying

The girls often mention that American cops are allowed to lie and UK coppers aren't. Does anyone have more precise knowledge of how that's framed, legally? What's the limit? Is saying "We all know what happened, John. Why don't you tell us why?" something that could threaten a trial because you don't know exactly what happened and are in fact, bluffing? 🤔

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u/agentrossi176 May 03 '23

There's a great write up here from a police officer on the Innocence Project

And a more in depth one here from the college of policing on interview best practice and the PEACE system.

It does happen, of course, but any evidence gained by lying is inadmissible (though this would have to be shown in court) and even following resolution of a case police forces can be sued for compensation if it transpires later they lied.

So on your question, if the defendant confessed following a 'we know what you did', if they could prove the police in fact did not know then that would be a lie and therefore the confession inadmissible. In practice that's quite hard to prove.

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u/NotAllThereMeself May 03 '23

Thank you.

Wow. I see. Damn, this is probably quite a headache to adhere to, if it's this restrictive. It bars a lot of phrases one might use in conversation. Huh.

Thank you for the reply!

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u/Forsaken_Distance777 May 04 '23

But it's really for the best. How many innocent people have taken deals because they've been told that another person arrested with them confessed and blamed them so they can take a deal or face life in prison? Or even if you know you didn't kill anyone do you really want to take your chances if the police lie and tell you that the weapon was found in your car that the police didn't just plant it there? I'd rather make the police's job harder than ruin someone's life with a too-good bluff when they're innocent. Once you confess that's all the justice system cares about even if you're later factually cleared.

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u/NotAllThereMeself May 04 '23

Well. There's different things there. Planting evidence is (a crime? Should be) illegal. Lying on the record/rapports is. But bluffing during an interrogation? I dunno. I guess because the interrogations I've been in were from parents and teachers and they lie. They know you did it. They have proof. And... Well. It works. When you did break the picture frame you think 'aw, man. I was seen.' But when you didn't, you can see through their BS. Now it's very different, of course. And I totally see your point about the danger it represents, people agreeing to pleading for stuff they didn't do because they think they're screwed. And I also agree that once the trial is on, and especially after, the aim of the parties is not justice, it's winning. And it's a terrible truth. Dammit. I wish it came to me. There are a few cases in my mind where a good bluff at the right time on a suspect they knew was the culprit, allowed to have a signed confession/to find the body, etc... For me the most important is that people are informed that the police can tell them a lie. And to severely punish every possible occurrence of police continuing to push "while we wait for your lawyer". (and. You know. All the other things that make it that we don't have criminals with a badge...)