Victims and Suspects

Question 1

What intimate samples are required from suspects under PACE 1984?

Answer 1

• Blood, urine, semen, pubic hair, other tissue fluid
• Dental impression
• Swab from genitals and orifice other than the mouth

Question 2

When can intimate samples be taken from a suspect?

Answer 2

IF authority is given by a police officer of rank inspector or above AND written consent is obtained from suspect, OR suspect in custody is informed of decision to take intimate samples

Question 3

What non-intimate samples are required through PACE 1984?

Answer 3

• Fingerprints
• Footwear
• Hair other than pubic
• Samples from nail or underneath nail
• Swab from any part of person’s body that isn’t intimate e.g. saliva on skin, bite marks, injuries
• Skin impression (if bite marks)

Question 4

When can non-intimate samples be taken?

Answer 4

• written consent from the suspect is obtained
• If not, then if the person has been detained in consequence of an arrest for a recordable offence
• or they have not had the same sample taken previously in relation to the investigation
• or they did have a sample taken but it was unsuitable or insufficient

Question 5

What is the order of recovery of non-intimate samples?

Answer 5

• Photography, stand offender on sterile sheet
• Hair combings
• Hair samples
• Clothing
• Fingernail scrapings/clippings
• Skin swabs
• Buccal swabs

Question 6

How are hair combings collected?

Answer 6

• Individual leant over table covered with sterile sheet and hair is combed through at least 50 times
• Comb on paper, fold paper to contain all debris and put in plastic bag, seal, label

Question 7

How is clothing collected?

Answer 7

• Stood on sterile sheet, remove items from bottom to top and package separately
• Dry items go in paper bags, sealed, labelled BEFORE removing next item
• Wet items go in plastic bags for freezing or drying later
• Sterile paper is folded to contain all debris, put in plastic bag and sealed, labelled

Question 8

How are hair (head or pubic) samples collected?

Answer 8

• Using kit, pull or cut around 25 hairs
• Package in paper wrap, plastic bag, seal, label

Question 9

How are nail samples/scrapings collected?

Answer 9

• Clip nails of each hand over sterile sheet and exhibit separately with clippers
• Wet and dry swab after clipping, seal, label, TEB

Question 10

How are skin swabs taken?

Answer 10

• Visible contaminants on the skin are swabbed, 1 wet 1 dry with a background swab

Question 11

What other issues (e.g. contamination, personal) need to be considered when handling offenders?

Answer 11

• seperate custody suites, vehicles and officers for each suspect
• dry cell for offender so evidence can’t be washed away
• cultural/religious considerations
• same sex officer/offender