Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984

77 Confessions by mentally handicapped persons.U.K.

(1)Without prejudice to the general duty of the court at a trial on indictment [F1with a jury] to direct the jury on any matter on which it appears to the court appropriate to do so, where at such a trial—

(a)the case against the accused depends wholly or substantially on a confession by him; and

(b)the court is satisfied—

(i)that he is mentally handicapped; and

(ii)that the confession was not made in the presence of an independent person,

the court shall warn the jury that there is special need for caution before convicting the accused in reliance on the confession, and shall explain that the need arises because of the circumstances mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b) above.

(2)In any case where at the summary trial of a person for an offence it appears to the court that a warning under subsection (1) above would be required if the trial were on indictment [F2with a jury] , the court shall treat the case as one in which there is a special need for caution before convicting the accused on his confession.

[F3(2A)In any case where at the trial on indictment without a jury of a person for an offence it appears to the court that a warning under subsection (1) above would be required if the trial were with a jury, the court shall treat the case as one in which there is a special need for caution before convicting the accused on his confession.]

(3)In this section—

  • “independent person” does not include a police officer or a person employed for, or engaged on, police purposes;

  • “mentally handicapped”, in relation to a person, means that he is in a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning; and

  • “police purposes” has the meaning assigned to it by [F4section 101(2) of the M1Police Act 1996].

Extent Information

E1S. 77 extends to England and Wales only with exceptions as regards courts martial, see s. 120(1)(6)-(8)

Textual Amendments

F1Words in s. 77(1) inserted (24.7.2006 for E.W. and 8.1.2007 for N.I.) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), ss. 331, 336, Sch. 36 Pt. 4 para. 48(2); S.I. 2006/1835, art. 2(g)(h) (subject to art. 3); S.I. 2006/3422, art. 2(c)(i)

F2Words in s. 77(2) inserted (24.7.2006 for E.W. and 8.1.2007 for N.I.) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), ss. 331, 336, Sch. 36 Pt. 4 para. 48(3); S.I. 2006/1835, art. 2(g)(h) (subject to art. 3); S.I. 2006/3422, art. 2(c)(i)

F4Words in the definition of "police purposes" in s. 77(3) substituted (22.8.1996) by 1996 c. 16, ss. 103(1), 104(2), Sch. 7 Pt. II para.38

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Marginal Citations