§ Mr. CrausbyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the procedure in relation to the destruction of a suspect's police records(a) if the victim decides not to press charges and (b) if the Crown Prosecution Service decides not to prosecute. [49073]
§ Mr. MichaelSave in exceptional circumstances, details of cases which are discontinued are deleted from the Police National Computer and fingerprints and other samples taken from a suspect are destroyed within forty-two days of notification of the decision not to proceed. This does not apply in cases where the offender is cautioned.
The retention of local police records in these circumstances is an operational matter for the chief constable concerned.