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Policing and Crime Act 2017

Annex H - Biometric Material Retention Schedule

Biometric retention periods as defined under Part 5 of PACE

Individuals convicted of an offence

Situation Fingerprint & DNA Retention Period
Adult convicted (including cautions) of any recordable offence Indefinite
Under 18 convicted (including cautions, reprimands and final warnings) of a qualifying offence Indefinite
Under 18 convicted of a minor offence

1st conviction: Five years (plus length of any custodial sentence), or indefinite if the custodial sentence is five years or more.

2nd conviction: indefinite

Individuals not convicted of an offence

Situation Fingerprint & DNA Retention Period
Any age charged with but not convicted of a qualifying offence Three years + two year extension if granted by District Judge (or indefinite if previously convicted of a recordable offence which is not excluded)
Any age arrested for but not charged with a qualifying offence Three years if granted by Biometrics Commissioner + two year extension if granted by District Judge (or indefinite if previously convicted or a recordable offence which is not excluded)
Any age arrested for or charged with a minor offence None (or indefinite if there is a previous conviction for a recordable offence which is not excluded) but speculatively searched against National DNA Database and national fingerprint database
Penalty Notice for Disorder Two years

Source: National Police Chiefs’ Council, ACRO Criminal Records Office, Retention Schedule (opens in new window)

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