Being arrested on UK cop shows

[Lionel Mandrake]

On this side of the pond we speak of Mirandizing the suspect: "You have the right to remain silent ... ."

The Brits do it differently, according to shows like "Vera". Part of their warning goes something like this:

"You don't have to say anything, but it may harm your defense if you fail to mention when questioned something you later rely on in court."

Huh? I can parse the sentence, but I don't understand its implications. What's the story here?

[Bev54]

1. It is the same in Canada, just stay silent and don't talk and ask for a lawyer

They can question you but you can refuse to answer. We just don't have Miranda rights read to us like in the US.

[dflprincess]

5. Years ago I read that French police were getting tired of the U.S. cop shows being shown

there because, when they'd arrest someone, the suspect would demand to be read the Miranda warning. (Criminals - not always the brightest bunch.)

[Bev54]

6. I would bet it is the same here.

[KT2000]

2. have wondered about that too

It sounds like being quiet would work against the person in court no matter what.

[Lionel Mandrake]

7. Can being quiet really harm the suspect's defense?

I can't imagine a scenario where this would be true. But I don't know much about British courts.

[Phoenix61]

3. I think it's referring to people who answer questions

then later conveniently “remember” things so their story is much different.

[3Hotdogs]

4. While the wording is stilted, the result is the same.

Several Brit cop shows have defendants seated with their solicitor at their side, sometimes telling client to not answer.

More common, the suspect being held and not saying a word. D.C.I. fretting that they only have 48 hours to get him to confess before they have to release him.

[vanlassie]

8. Of course, in the UK, there's ALWAYS CC CAMERAS

literally anywhere it may be needed to catch the bad guy in the act!