Coverage Matrix

Authority to act and DSCC notification

Understand how authority to act is obtained via DSCC call-back and own-client arrangements; probationary restrictions.

Professional boundaries and duties

Understand professional conduct duties: duty to the client, integrity, confidentiality, and not misleading.

Probationary period requirements

Understand probationary status: 12-month period, supervision requirements, own-client work restrictions, portfolio building.

Right to free legal advice (s.58 PACE)

The right to consult a solicitor privately at any time; notification requirements; DSCC scheme.

Delay of legal advice (Annex B)

Circumstances where access to legal advice may be delayed for indictable offences; authorisation requirements; time limits.

Telephone advice and duty solicitor scheme

Telephone advice provision; when attendance is required; DSCC operation.

Authorisation of detention (s.37)

Custody officer's duty to authorise or refuse detention; grounds; reasonable suspicion; sufficient evidence.

Detention time limits (s.41-44)

24-hour standard limit; 36-hour superintendent extension; 96-hour warrant of further detention; relevant time.

Detention reviews (s.40)

First review within 6 hours, then every 9 hours; inspector review; representations.

Custody record requirements

Contents of custody record; access rights; recording decisions and reasons.

Rights and entitlements in custody

Right to have someone informed (s.56); right to legal advice (s.58); right to consult Codes; notification of rights.

Vulnerable suspects definition and identification

Definition of vulnerable adult; mental disorder/learning disability/mental vulnerability; observation and assessment.

Appropriate adult role and requirements

When AA required; role of AA; who can be an AA; conflicts of interest.

Juveniles in custody

Definition of juvenile (under 18); mandatory AA; parental notification; special treatment.

Fitness for interview

Assessment of fitness; healthcare professional involvement; conditions for postponement.

Pre-interview disclosure and preparation

Nature and extent of advance disclosure; strategic use; limitations and requests.

Private consultation before interview

Right to private consultation; taking instructions; advising on strategy; managing expectations.

Interview attendance and conduct

Role during interview; note-taking; when and how to intervene; breaks.

Interventions and objections

Grounds for intervention; improper questions; oppressive questioning; record on tape.

Adverse inference and prepared statements

CJPOA s.34-37 inference provisions; when no comment appropriate; prepared statement strategy.

Powers of arrest (s.24 PACE)

Constable's power to arrest without warrant; reasonable grounds for suspecting; reasonable grounds for belief.

Necessity criteria for arrest

The necessity test; specific necessity grounds; alternatives to arrest.

Information on arrest (s.28)

Duty to inform person of arrest and grounds; caution requirements.

Voluntary attendance

Alternative to arrest; rights of voluntary attendee; when arrest becomes necessary.

Types of identification procedure

Video identification; identification parade; group identification; confrontation; when each applies.

When identification required

Known suspect; disputed identity; first description; triggering factors.

Safeguards and legal representative role

Right to have legal representative present; objections; recording; challenges.

Audio recording of interviews (Code E)

When audio recording required; equipment; sealing and signatures; copies.

Visual recording of interviews (Code F)

When visual recording used; vulnerable suspects; review of recordings.

Bail and conditions

Police bail; conditions; objections and representations; failure to answer bail.

Released under investigation (RUI)

No bail conditions; ongoing investigation; re-arrest risks; client advice.

Charging decisions

CPS charging role; custody officer charging; threshold test; full code test.

No further action and cautions

NFA decisions; simple cautions; conditional cautions; youth cautions.

Confession evidence (s.76)

Exclusion of oppression-obtained confessions; unreliability; burden on prosecution.

Exclusion for unfairness (s.78)

Court discretion to exclude evidence; adverse effect on fairness; procedural breaches.

Confidentiality and privilege

Legal professional privilege; confidentiality duty; exceptions and limitations.

Duty not to mislead

Duty to court and third parties; not advancing known false cases; withdrawal.

Client instructions and autonomy

Taking clear instructions; respecting client decisions; documenting advice.

Attendance notes and contemporaneous records

Structure of attendance notes; key information to record; timing requirements.

Portfolio building for accreditation

Portfolio structure; case summaries; reflective accounts; supervisor sign-off.

Reflective practice

Learning from experience; structured reflection; identifying development needs.

Probationary period structure

12-month probationary period; supervision requirements; restrictions on own-client work.

Assessment components and deadlines

Written exam; portfolio submission; critical incident test (CIT); timing requirements.

Register entry requirements

Full accreditation requirements; duty scheme eligibility; maintaining registration.

Initial call and triage

DSCC call handling; initial information gathering; authority to act; identifying issues.

Arriving at custody and initial steps

Custody record inspection; identifying vulnerabilities; requesting safeguards; disclosure request.

Private consultation conduct

Taking instructions; explaining process; advising on strategy; agreeing approach.

Interview attendance decisions

When to intervene; handling difficult questions; requesting breaks; managing the interview.

Post-interview and outcome

Bail representations; advising on outcomes; follow-up steps; record completion.