When a suspect is hauled down to the cop shop, it is customary for the plod in charge of the interrogation to keep them waiting a while.
The idea is to let them stew in their own juices as they consider their fate. With any luck, by the time you get to them they're ready to spill the borlotti.
Such tactics were at the forefront of Andrew Marr's strategy when he welcomed Michael Gove on to his Sunday morning programme yesterday.
Michael Gove had to face up to his historic cocaine use in a grilling by Andrew Marr on Sunday morning
Marr first interrogated Labour's chief Morris dancer Barry Gardner who insisted he has never touched drugs
Mr Gove, the public has learned via this newspaper, was once, as prosecuting silks might say, a user of cocaine.
The revelations are of such inconvenience to the Environment Secretary's leadership ambitions he voluntarily reported to Broadcasting House for questioning.
DI Marr kept the man hoping to be our next prime minister waiting a whole half an hour. He first wished to cross-examine fellow leadership candidate Esther McVey and Labour's chief Morris dancer Barry Gardiner. Drugs? No, gov, never touched 'em, they both insisted.
Eventually, his attention turned to Mr Gove. For the benefit of the tape, let the record show the suspect at this point shuffled gingerly in his chair. Under the studio lights we saw the Govester's once auburn locks are now quite grey.
Fellow Scotsman Marr decided to delay the fast bowling for a bit, leaving the Bolivian marching powder business for later on. First, a few gentle looseners on his guest's leadership ambitions.
Mr Gove said he was ready to be prime minister. Ready from day one.
'I have the experience,' he said assertively, sounding a bit like an over-eager contestant on The Apprentice.
'I have proven in every job I have done against the odds, that I can deliver. I have
