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Annesley law reform

01 May 1993

RUC Chief Constable Sir Hugh Annesley has launched an attack on the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland, describing it as "heavily loaded in favour of the accused". Annesley used the occasion of the presentation of his annual report (27.5.93) to demand six changes. He wants revisions to the discovery process (the rules governing disclosure of information to the defence) and the complete removal of the right to silence. Courts are already able to draw a negative inference from a suspects silence. Annesley would like to make it an offence to refuse to answer security forces' questions. He also wants accomplice (informer) evidence to be more readily admissible than it currently is. The courts should be told of a suspect's previous terrorist convictions and finally, Annesley argues, intelligence evidence such as the transcripts of telephone taps should count as evidence before the courts.