BACK in October 1987, the Gazette reported on a new system of taperecording interviews between police officers and suspected criminals.

The first stations to use the system in Avon and Somerset were Chipping Sodbury, Staple Hill and Filton.

Facilities at other stations throughout the two counties was to be phased in over the following three years.

At the three local stations, police introduced specially adapted interview rooms and tape storage facilities.

The quality and credibility of evidence presented to the courts was one of the concerns of the Criminal Law Review Committee, whose recommendations led to the introduction of the Police and Criminal Act 1984.

The committee suggested that tape recording interviews would solve the problem, although they accepted it would not be practical to do that in every instance.

They also said that suspects would have to agree to their interview being taped.

Police said the tape-recording of interviews allowed for more effective use of personnel - only one officer would generally be required to conduct the interview.

The previous system required the presence of two officers.