judge would see confessing to a crime in which the suspect did not commit as something against self-interest, which in most people's minds does not make sense. In terms of how harmless a false confession is, it has been shown that confessions can affect other pieces of evidence and the way they are presented, which can affect a judge or jury's perception of guilt. Through debunking these myths it can be demonstrated that confessions cannot be the be-all-end-all in a criminal investigation, and the criminal justice system should implement more tactics and procedures that prevent false confessions from occurring. Worldwide England and Wales In English law a confession includes: any statement wholly or partly adverse to the person who made it, whether made to a person in authority or not and whether made in words or otherwise. A confession may be admitted in evidence so long as it is relevant to any matter in issue and not excluded under the court's discretion. Exclusion of prosecution evidence The court must exclude evidence: if the "admission of the evidence would have such an adverse effect on the fairness of the proceedings that the court ought not to admit it", or if it was obtained by torture. The court may exclude evidence: in its common law discretion if the prejudicial effect of the evidence outweighs the probative value, or under section 76 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. Under section 76, following a representation by the defendant or upon the court's own motion, evidence tendered by the prosecution must not be admitted if it was or may have been obtained: by oppression of the person who made it; or in consequence of anything said or done which was likely, in the circumstances existing at the time, to render unreliable any confession which might be made by the accused in consequence thereof. Whether or not evidence was obtained in such circumstances will be decided by a judge sitting without a jury in a voir dire. Oppression includes torture, inhumane and degrading treatment and the use or threat of violence. Oppression imports "some impropriety... actively applied in an inappropriate manner by the police" Under the second limb, a judge is not to consider whether the confession made was truthful, but rather whether, under the circumstances, "whatever was said or done, was, in the circumstances existing as at the time of the confession, likely