§ Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement setting out the procedures followed by the Metropolitan Police concerning the retention of fingerprint and photographic records, respectively, affecting persons who have been released following arrest or acquitted of the charge in respect of which the arrest took place.
§ Mr. MayhewFingerprints and photographs are retained by the Metropolitan Police if criminal proceedings are instituted and result in a conviction. Subject to the following three exceptions, they are destroyed in all other circumstances. First, fingerprints and photographs taken under the provisions of the Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976 are retained. Secondly, the photographs—but not the fingerprints—of a person charged with an offence under section 6(3) of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 or section 22 of the Theft Act 1968 are retained for a limited period in the event of his acquittal. Thirdly, if a case on indictment is ordered by a court to remain on the file, not to be proceeded with without leave, fingerprints and photographs are retained for five years, unless the circumstances of the case justify their earlier destruction, if a plea of not guilty has been entered, and retained indefinitely otherwise.