HC Deb 03 July 2002 vol 388 cc424-5W
Norman Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which organisations have access to(a) fingerprints and (b) DNA samples held by the police. [64245]

Mr. Denham

[holdinganswer 25 June 2002]Under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (as amended) retained fingerprints and DNA samples can be used only for purposes related to the prevention or detection of crime, the investigation of an offence or the conduct of a prosecution. Fingerprints and DNA samples, and the profiles derived from them, which are held by or on behalf of police forces in the United Kingdom and Islands, may be accessed only by relevant law—enforcement authorities. Relevant law—enforcement authorities are listed in section 63A of the 1984 Act. They are:

  1. (a) a police force1;
  2. (b) the national criminal intelligence service;
  3. (c) the national crime squad;
  4. (d) a Public Authority (not falling within paragraphs (a) to (c)) with functions in any part of the British islands which consist of or include the investigation of crimes or the charging of offenders;

  1. (e) any person with functions in any country or territory outside the United Kingdom which
  2. (i) correspond to those of a police force, or
  3. (ii) otherwise consist of or include the investigation of conduct contrary to the law of that country or territory, or the apprehension of persons guilty of such conduct;
  4. (f) any person with functions under any international agreement which consist of or include the investigation of conduct which is
  5. (i) unlawful under the law of one or more places,
  6. (ii) prohibited by such an agreement, or
  7. (iii) contrary to international law, or the apprehension of persons guilty of such conduct.

1The reference to a police force is a reference to any of the following:

  1. (a) any police force maintained under section 2 of the Police Act 1996 (c 16)(police forces in England and Wales outside London);
  2. (b) the Metropolitan police force;
  3. (c) the City of London police force;
  4. (d) any police force maintained under or by virtue of section 1 of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967 (c 77);
  5. (e) the police service of Northern Ireland;
  6. (f) the police service of Northern Ireland Reserve;
  7. (g) the Ministry of Defence police;
  8. (h) the Royal Navy regulating branch;
  9. (i) the Royal Military police;
  10. (j) the Royal Air Force police;
  11. (k) the Royal Marines police;
  12. (I) the British Transport police;
  13. (m) the States of Jersey police force;
  14. (n) the salaried police force of the Island of Guernsey;
  15. (o) the Isle of Man constabulary.