| Activity: Manish and Ryan at the police station
KS3 Citizenship 1.2b. 1.2c. 3b. Personal wellbeing 4c.
KS4 Citizenship 1.2b. 1.2c. 3b. Personal wellbeing 4d.
Current KS3 Citizenship1a PSHE 4g
Current KS4 Citizenship1a PSHE 4g
View activity
This activity introduces the students to the police station and the interview room, and allows them to see exactly what happens when someone is interviewed by the police.
Discussion
Ask the students why the police interview people. What are they trying to find out? Do they only interview those suspected of having committed crimes? Witnesses to crimes are also interviewed formally, and they have to sign a written statement. In law, people are innocent until proven guilty; if being interviewed on suspicion of having committed a crime, they have the right to remain silent, the right to a lawyer, and the right to be held for no longer than a specified time without charge. The police have a responsibility to gather all the evidence and to separate fact from opinion or hear say, and they can only charge a person with an offence if they have sufficient evidence to prove their guilt.
Role play
Invite the students to work in groups of three or four and to choose one of the interview scenes to act out. When taking on the role of Manish or Ryan, they should remember that these characters may not always be telling the truth. Students playing police officers should note that they are looking for facts, not opinions.
Extension activities
Challenge the students to suggest ways in which the duty solicitor could help Manish and Ryan during their police interviews. How can the duty solicitor ensure they are both treated fairly? Ask them to present their suggestions in the form of a charter of rights for Manish and Ryan.
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