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Police "caution" shortened

01 January 1995

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The new caution to be used by the police has been cut from 60 words to 37 words. The caution, which is being introduced under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act, will now read:

"You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence".

From April courts will be able to draw conclusions from the fact that a defendant has either remained silent or not answered relevant questions. Lawyers and civil liberties groups are still critical of the shortened version which is part of the government's abolition to the right of silence (this extends into the court where failure to go into the witness box by defendants can be used against them).

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