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Terror cases 'put at risk' by Met's medical overhaul
The prosecution of terror suspects and hundreds of other alleged criminals could be undermined because of changes to the medical care provided for detainees by the Metropolitan Police, the government's terrorism watchdog warned on Monday.
- Evening Standard
- Published: 23:35 January 5, 2009
London: The prosecution of terror suspects and hundreds of other alleged criminals could be undermined because of changes to the medical care provided for detainees by the Metropolitan Police, the government's terrorism watchdog warned on Monday.
Lord Carlile of Berriew, the independent monitor of counter-terrorism legislation, said he feared the reforms could lead to vital evidence being ruled inadmissible in court and damage the police's ability to question suspects properly.
He also warned that the overhaul - which is being opposed by the majority of the Met's existing doctors - could harm the treatment of detainees and also result in worse care for crime victims and injured police officers.
New contract
Medical experts claimed the changes, which are due to come into effect next week, would bring "chaos" and leave police stations without adequate healthcare provision.
The row centres on a decision by the Met to introduce a new contract for about 150 "forensic medical examiners", who currently carry out health checks on detainees brought into custody to ensure that they are fit to be questioned.
The Met, which insists that it will continue to have fully trained medical examiners available wherever necessary, is aiming to ensure that the doctors are deployed more effectively.
The doctors, who are currently independent rather than direct employees of the Met, warn, however, that the new contract will undermine their autonomy and give police unacceptable control over their activities, as well as potential widespread access to patients' medical details.
They also fear that the reforms could jeopardise the ability of the doctors to give independent evidence in court and to certify that a detainee had not been subject to physical or mental duress during arrest.
Lord Carlile warned yesterday of potentially serious repercussions for the cases of terror suspects held at Paddington Green, one of the police stations that will lose its existing specialist medical examiners. These include the risk of vital evidence being ruled inadmissible because there would be no independent medical testimony to confirm that a suspect had been fit to be detained and questioned.
- Evening Standard
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