PACE Code C: A Practical Guide for Police Station Representatives

What Code C covers

Code of Practice C sits under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. It applies when people are held at police stations for questioning or have attended voluntarily for interview under caution. Reps use Code C daily to check whether custody treatment and interview procedures are lawful.

Detention and the custody clock

Ordinary detention without charge is limited — broadly twenty-four hours from the “relevant time” under PACE 1984 s.41, extendable in serious cases with superintendent authorisation and magistrates’ warrants for further periods. Reps monitor Code C reviews, custody records, and whether grounds for detention remain.

• Relevant time and start of detention
• Periodic reviews by custody officer
• Rights to legal advice and private consultation
• Medical assessments and welfare checks

The caution and interviews

The standard caution warns that silence may harm the defence if facts later relied on were not mentioned when questioned (Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 s.34). Reps advise clients after reviewing disclosure — not before understanding the allegation. Code C sets rules on breaks, rest, and recording of interviews.

Vulnerable suspects and appropriate adults

Juveniles and vulnerable adults require an appropriate adult in custody and interview unless exceptions apply under Code C. Reps must recognise vulnerability triggers — learning disability, mental health, inability to understand — and ensure safeguards are in place before advising on interview.

Common assessment themes

PSRAS MCQs and CIT scenarios frequently test Code C timelines, interview legality, appropriate adult requirements, and whether a rep’s proposed action matches Code C and PACE 1984 priorities. Structured revision on Code C pays disproportionate dividends in mocks and the real assessments.