§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes in procedure have been made by the Metropolitan police since August 1989 concerning procedures for the severing of hands from deceased persons for purposes related to police inquiries; in what circumstances and by whom such actions are currently authorised; and for what purposes. [19774]
§ Mr. Maclean[holding answer 18 April 1995]: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the procedures followed by his officers in these circumstance are being revised. Such action will in future be taken only in wholly exceptional circumstances, where all other means of identification have proved unsuccessful, and on the written authority of the coroner.