The Government of the United Kingdom has recently announced its intention to curtail the right of a detained or accused person to remain silent during police questioning and at trial in England and Wales. Legislation curtailing the right of silence was enacted in Northern Ireland in 1988. AI is concerned that the curtailment of this right violates international standards. The organization has urged the government to repeal the Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1988 and opposes the introduction of similar legislation for England and Wales.
