Interrogations-and-Confessions-Handbook

62 A Psychology of Interrogations and Confessions
clinical grounds for having an appropriate adult present during the police interview
in 25 (15%) of the cases. This figure does not include cases where there
were medical problems, such as epilepsy, diabetes and heart problems. Some
medical problems can make detainees very agitated and distressed. There were
two cases in the present study, one involving epilepsy and the other heart problems,
where the detainees were extremely distressed because they did not have
their medication with them. Their distress was overcome when the police allowed
them access to their medication. There were also some heroin addicts who
might have been vulnerable because of their withdrawal symptoms, but they
were only included in the figures if they were also suffering from psychiatric
problems, such as depression with clear suicidal ideas. The significant effects of
drug withdrawal symptoms on the detainees’ likelihood to confess to the police
are discussed later in this chapter.
The 15% figure recommended by the researchers on the basis of their clinical
interview alone is clearly an underestimate if one takes into account all
the various medical conditions, drug withdrawal symptoms and low IQ scores
obtained on testing. However, in the researchers’ view, the police were able to
detect the most vulnerable detainees and called in an appropriate adult. Interestingly,
there were no cases where the police called in an appropriate adult
where the researchers considered that one was not needed. Therefore, the police
were able to identify accurately 28% of psychologically vulnerable detainees
who were, according to the brief clinical evaluation, in need of an appropriate
adult.
The police made frequent use of forensic medical examiners. They were called
in 26 (16%) cases. They were typically called in when the police suspected or
noted physical problems (e.g. physical injuries, intoxication or drug problems,
and headaches), rather than involving cases where psychiatric or psychological
problems needed to be evaluated.
Knowledge of Their Legal Rights
The researchers asked the detainees to list the rights to which they were entitled
whilst at the police station. A total of 139 (82%) reported that they were
entitled to see a solicitor and 113 (67%) knew that they could have somebody
informed of their detention. A small minority (17%) reported that they were
able to have a look at the Codes of Practice, if they wanted to.
Twenty-five (15%) of the detainees claimed that they had not been advised
of their legal rights by the Custody Officer, whose duty it is at the police station
to advise detainees of their legal rights. The researchers’ observations in the
Custody Suite showed that not all detainees were handed the Notice to Detained
Persons and many of those who were given the Notice claimed that they had
not bothered to read it, or could not read it or understand it.
Results from Psychological Testing
The results from the psychological tests administered are shown in Table 3.2.
The prorated IQ scores for the Verbal and Performance subscales produced a