Retention, destruction and use of fingerprints and samples etc
Section 14: Material subject to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
50.Section 14 substitutes a new section 64 into PACE and inserts fourteen new sections immediately after it. Section 64 (destruction of fingerprints and samples) currently sets out the purposes for which fingerprints, impressions of footwear and samples may be retained but permits them to be retained after they have fulfilled the purposes for which they were taken without reference to a retention period. The effect of section 14 is to establish a framework for the retention and destruction of such material, following the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in S and Marper v United Kingdom [2008] ECHR 1581. The new provisions require the destruction of DNA samples once they have been profiled and loaded satisfactorily onto the national database. In any event, all samples (whether biological DNA material or other samples, such as dental or skin impressions) are required to be destroyed within six months of their being taken (see new section 64ZA(2)).
51.The retention periods for the various categories of data depend on a number of factors including the age of the individual concerned, the seriousness of the offence or alleged offence, whether the individual has been convicted, and if so whether it is a first conviction. The different categories can be summarised as follows:
Adults - convicted: indefinite retention of fingerprints, impressions of footwear and DNA profile (see substituted section 64(2));
Adults - arrested but unconvicted: retention of fingerprints, impressions of footwear and DNA profile for 6 years (see new section 64ZD);
Under 18 year olds - convicted of serious offence or more than one minor offence: indefinite retention of fingerprints, impressions of footwear and DNA profile (see substituted section 64(2));
Under 18 year olds - convicted of single minor offence: retention of fingerprints, impressions of footwear and DNA profile for 5 years (see new section 64ZH);
16 and 17 year olds - arrested for but unconvicted of serious offence: retention of fingerprints, impressions of footwear and DNA profile for 6 years (see new section 64ZG);
All other under 18 year olds - arrested but unconvicted: retention of fingerprints, impressions of footwear and DNA profile for 3 years (see new sections 64ZE and 64ZF);
Persons subject to a control order: retention of fingerprints and DNA profile for 2 years after the control order ceases to have effect (see new section 64ZC);
All DNA samples: retained until profile loaded onto database, but no more than 6 months (see new section 64ZA).
52.For the purposes of these provisions, the concept of “qualifying offence” is used to distinguish between serious and minor offences. Qualifying offence is defined in section 7.
53.The substitution of new section 64 also has the effect of removing the existing right of a person to witness the destruction of their fingerprints or impressions of footwear as, with the increasing use of technology, there are often no physical prints to destroy. However, a person still has the right to request a certificate from the police confirming that their data have been destroyed (see new section 64ZM).
54.The section also contains provision in new section 64ZB for material which has been given voluntarily to be destroyed as soon as it has fulfilled the purpose for which it was taken, unless the individual is subsequently convicted, has previous convictions or consents to its retention.
55.In addition, where fingerprints or DNA profiles would otherwise need to be destroyed because of the expiry of a time limit set out in the above sections, new section 64ZK enables a responsible chief officer of police to determine that, for reasons of national security, those fingerprints or DNA profiles may be retained for up to two further years on that basis. It is open to the responsible chief officer to make further determinations to retain material where the necessity continues to exist.
