§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of photographs taken by the Metropolitan police of detained, arrested and suspected persons for each year since 1979; and if he will indicate in how many cases in each year those photographs were destroyed when charges were not subsequently brought or the individual concerned was acquitted.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggI am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that this information is not collected centrally.
§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will give the number of photographs taken of persons arrested, charged or otherwise detained as a result of the News International dispute; and what is the procedure adopted by the Metropolitan police with regard to the destruction of photographic material relating to those persons subsequently not charged or acquitted by the courts;
(2) in what percentage of cases the Metropolitan police have photographed and fingerprinted pickets and demonstrators arrested, charged or otherwise detained as a result of incidents arising from the News International dispute at Wapping.
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§ Mr. Douglas HoggI understand from the Commissioner that photographs and fingerprints have been taken in all cases where those arrested or detained have been charged with recordable offences. Of 1,471 persons arrested up to 10 February, 857 (58 per cent.) have been so charged. The photographs and fingerprints of any person subsequently acquitted or bound over to keep the peace by the courts are destroyed in accordance with the code of practice for the identification of persons by police officers.