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Annesley law reform (1)

01 January 1991

Annesley law reform
artdoc July=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.

Statewatch vol 3 no 3 May-June 1993