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30 March 2006 - Law Society Calls for
Urgent Action to Protect Lawyers
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The Law Society of England and Wales, the professional body for
solicitors, have sent out a warning to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE),
that "it is only a matter of time" before a serious injury occurs if solicitors
have to continue interviewing potentially violent or abusive suspects alone in
locked cells or rooms.
The Society say this practice is an ever increasing trend
amongst the police force and call for urgent action from the HSE.
The Criminal Law Solicitors Association (CLSA) have already
uncovered evidence of this dangerous practice at 16 police stations in England
and Wales.
It is pointed out by the Law Society, that the police must be
"educated about their responsibilities" and gave the following examples of the
types of harassments duty solicitors encounter:
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A woman duty solicitor was locked in with a convicted rapist.
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In another case a suspect exposed himself.
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One male solicitor was spat at by a suspect he was trying to
help.
Commenting on their findings, Kevin Martin, Law Society
President, said:
”The police are being cavalier with the safety of duty
solicitors by locking them in interview rooms with unknown and potentially
dangerous suspects.
"The police arrest violent suspects with handcuffs but some
officers are leaving solicitors locked in interview rooms with them. It is not
always clear when suspects could become violent, particularly if they suffer
mental health problems or from the effects of drug abuse.
"The police must be educated about their responsibilities.”
Ian Kelcey, CLSA Chairman, commented:
”It is time for the Association of Chief Police Officers and
the Home Office to issue a directive that to lock solicitors into interview
rooms with clients is totally inappropriate.
"The facilities in many interview rooms at police stations
are woefully inadequate. The panic button in some rooms is too high on the wall
and the police response to panic buttons can be appalling.”
Further information on work-related violence can be accessed from the HSE
webpage, by clicking the following:
Work related violence
Article by Alexandra Johnston
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