3 ms·

You seem to imply that cops in the US _are_ allowed to lie, and search your private property without cause. If a cop in the US lies to you, or searches your ca

You seem to imply that cops in the US _are_ allowed to lie, and search your private property without cause. If a cop in the US lies to you, or searches your car without cause, or otherwise 'tricks' you, it's no more admissible that it would be in the UK. The issue (in both countries) is proving the cop lied to you, tricked you, etc. Which is the whole point of have legal consul present in the first place. One of the comments on the article mentions that the 'UK version of the "Miranda rights" includes the sentence "It may harm your defense if you do not mention, when questioned, something which you later rely on in court."' The most common tactic I've heard cops employ in the US is "if you're innocent, it's in your best interest to talk to us." It would appear the UK has that trick built right in to the process from the start.

dotBen 16y ago
"If a cop in the US lies to you, or searches your car without cause, or otherwise 'tricks' you, it's no more admissible that it would be in the UK. The issue (in both countries) is proving the cop lied to you, tricked you" Well, my understanding is different. Here is an example: Suspect is in the police station being questioned and the police officer says "we know you did it, your friend who we arrested in the car with you said you did it. he just gave a statement. Why don't you just sign this confession now and we'll sort out a deal". (The police officer lied, the other person hadn't said anything let alone made a statement) In the US that would be admissible in court because it doesn't matter how the confession was reached, even lies (short of beating the suspect/etc). In the UK that would not be admissible because it would obtained through lying to the suspect. You are right though, no matter where you are in the world, by the time you are being questioned in the police station it is time to make sure you have legal counsel... and not the one provided to you by the state but a lawyer you already know. For this reason everyone should have a connection with an appropriate lawyer and have their information to hand in case of arrest.
scott_s 16y ago
I recently finished reading Homicide by David Simon. It is a mind-blowingly good book. From that book I learned, yes, cops can lie to you. And when they're interrogating a suspect, they lie all the time.
philwelch 16y ago
They're allowed to search your private property with your consent. Silent acquiescence is considered consent. If they knock on the door, you open the door, and they step inside, and they start poking around, and you haven't said anything? You consented to that search.

dotBen 16y ago

"If a cop in the US lies to you, or searches your car without cause, or otherwise 'tricks' you, it's no more admissible that it would be in the UK. The issue (in both countries) is proving the cop lied to you, tricked you" Well, my understanding is different. Here is an example: Suspect is in the police station being questioned and the police officer says "we know you did it, your friend who we arrested in the car with you said you did it. he just gave a statement. Why don't you just sign this confession now and we'll sort out a deal". (The police officer lied, the other person hadn't said anything let alone made a statement) In the US that would be admissible in court because it doesn't matter how the confession was reached, even lies (short of beating the suspect/etc). In the UK that would not be admissible because it would obtained through lying to the suspect. You are right though, no matter where you are in the world, by the time you are being questioned in the police station it is time to make sure you have legal counsel... and not the one provided to you by the state but a lawyer you already know. For this reason everyone should have a connection with an appropriate lawyer and have their information to hand in case of arrest.

scott_s 16y ago

I recently finished reading Homicide by David Simon. It is a mind-blowingly good book. From that book I learned, yes, cops can lie to you. And when they're interrogating a suspect, they lie all the time.

philwelch 16y ago

They're allowed to search your private property with your consent. Silent acquiescence is considered consent. If they knock on the door, you open the door, and they step inside, and they start poking around, and you haven't said anything? You consented to that search.