판결 이유
A citizen has no general legal duty to assist the police or answer their questions. Refusing to answer questions or to accompany police voluntarily does not constitute obstruction of a police officer in the execution of their duty.
사실관계
Police officers on patrol at night in an area with recent burglaries asked Mr Rice questions. He refused to give his full name and address or to accompany them to a police box. He was charged with obstructing a police officer.
판결 요약
The Divisional Court held that while every citizen has a moral duty to assist police, there is no legal duty to do so. Merely refusing to answer questions or to go to a police station is not obstruction. To constitute obstruction, the behaviour must go beyond a passive refusal and involve something 'wilfully done' to obstruct.
주요 인용문
"It seems to me quite clear that though every citizen has a moral duty or, if you like, a social duty to assist the police, there is no legal duty to that effect."
— Lord Parker CJ
후속 처리
Consistently cited as authority that there is no general duty to answer police questions.