Further supplementary memorandum submitted
by the Home Office
Mr Salter asked a question about the debate
on the retention and use of DNA data in relation to the current
review of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE). I thought
that I should clarify the position in relation to the timescales
involved. As I indicated, we are aiming to launch the final public
consultation in relation to the PACE Review in the Spring. However,
I should add that, as you may know, there is a case currently
under consideration by the ECtHR (S and Marper v United Kingdom)
in which the applicants are challenging the policy of retaining
fingerprints and DNA from those acquitted or where no further
action was taken. The hearing took place in February. While timing
of the Judgement is a matter for the court, I understand that
it is not expected before the Summer. We will need to consider
future policy in this area in the light of that Judgement, so
we will not be putting forward proposals in this area when we
consult on the PACE Review in the Spring. Instead, we will be
setting out proposals on retention of biometric data in a separate
consultation exercise in the light of the ECtHR Judgement and
comments received on this issue in response to the PACE Review
process.
4 April 2008
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