INTERVIEW DOCTRINE OF POLICE OFFICERS

Mr J. B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether his Ministry will make public the doctrine for questioning of police suspects laid down for the guidance of police officers.

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Sir, the Interview Doctrine will not be made public. The Interview Doctrine is an internal confidential document to guide officers in their work within the framework of the law. It contains operational details for smooth running of police work in relation to the interviewing of persons. In particular, we cannot be `educating' the criminally-inclined to beat the system.

Let me assure the House that the interviewing process set out in the Interview Doctrine is in accordance with the laws. This must be the case as the evidence admitted in Court by the Police must be able to stand up to scrutiny by lawyers and the Court itself.

Mr Jeyaretnam: May I ask the Minister what good is it if the citizen himself does not know what his rights are and what is permitted in the questioning of him by the police officers? What is the good of having any doctrine locked away in the bosom of the police officers?

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Sir, not every citizen offends the law. Most of them do not. Those few who do really have reason to fear why they should be interrogated by the police. When the police interview a person they are not interested in just getting a confession from that person. They are interested in the truth, and in getting the truth, they have to make sure that they conduct their interview process in accordance with the law. If they cannot do it in accordance with the law and the case is challenged in court, then the whole case will be thrown out. So there is no reason for the police to go all out and get people who are innocent.

What right has he got? What does he know about his rights? I think Mr Jeyaretnam himself knows that the Law Society has published a few such publications on "Police Investigation and You", "Arrest and Bail", "Proceedings in Court", "Criminal Legal Aid Scheme", and so on. And if the person is interested in finding out, read these publications.

Mr Jeyaretnam: For the benefit of the Minister, I am aware of those publications. But my question again is this: is the Minister saying that a person arrested by the police has no right whatsoever and that the police officers can deal with him in any manner they choose?

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Sir, everyone of us has rights. Nobody can deal with anybody in any way he chooses. It must all be done within the context and confines of the law.

Mr Jeyaretnam: What is the point of saying that everyone has rights when he is not told of his rights and that he can exercise them?

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Sir, when the police interview a person, it is all done within the context of what they are supposed to do.