header-logo header-logo

Home Login E-newsletter About us
24 June 2020 / Michael Zander KC
Issue: 7892 / Categories: Features , Procedure & practice , Covid-19 , Criminal
printer mail-detail

COVID-19: Re-setting the PACE?

© Copyright LexisNexis 2026. All Rights Reserved.
23167
Police interviews during the COVID-19 crisis: Michael Zander on the new rules
  • Consultation: new PACE rules to authorise remote interviewing of suspects during the coronavirus emergency.

The Home Office is consulting urgently on new PACE rules to authorise remote interviewing of suspects during the coronavirus emergency. The new rules are to support the emergency Interview Protocol (https://bit.ly/2CrvZpG) agreed between the National Police Chiefs’ Council, Crown Prosecution Service, Law Society, Criminal Law Solicitors’ Association and London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association. The consultation ends on 3 July.

The changes to PACE Code C (to last only during the crisis) are set out in a new Annex AA. They modify the existing provisions which allow a suspect to have their solicitor present during the interview. The changes allow for legal advice during interview to be provided by a live link or a telephone conference link, provided that, in the case of a telephone call, it is visually recorded.

The custody officer in the case of someone detained, or the

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Read All
NLJ Career Profile: Daniel Burbeary, Michelman Robinson

NLJ Career Profile: Daniel Burbeary, Michelman Robinson

Daniel Burbeary, office managing partner of Michelman Robinson, discusses launching in London, the power of the law, and what the kitchen can teach us about litigating

Sidley—Jeremy Trinder

Sidley—Jeremy Trinder

Global finance group strengthened by returning partner in London

Joelson—Jennifer Mansoor

Joelson—Jennifer Mansoor

West End firm strengthens employment and immigration team with partner hire

NEWS
Read All
Pilot to protect rape victims from scrutiny
Operation Soteria, a 2021 initiative which protected rape victims from excessive scrutiny during police investigations, is being expanded into the courtroom, the Ministry of Justice has said
Justice speeds up, according to latest statistics
Civil and judicial review claims are being processed faster than this time last year despite the number of judicial reviews increasing by 56% to 1,100 applications, the latest civil justice statistics quarterly, published this week, have shown
Super-regulator's 'light touch' criticised
The collapse of law firms Axiom Ince and SSB Group demonstrate the need for the Legal Services Board (LSB) to strengthen its oversight of frontline regulators, Law Society president Mark Evans said this week
NLJ this week: Deepfakes demand data law muscle
As AI-generated ‘deepfake’ images proliferate, the law may already have the tools to respond. In NLJ this week, Jon Belcher of Excello Law argues that such images amount to personal data processing under UK GDPR
NLJ this week: 40% penalty for coercive control
In a striking financial remedies ruling, the High Court cut a wife’s award by 40% for coercive and controlling behaviour. Writing in NLJ this week, Chris Bryden and Nicole Wallace of 4 King’s Bench Walk analyse LP v MP [2025] EWFC 473
Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
back-to-top-scroll