Week 6. Code D. Identification Flashcards
Any procedure in this code involving the participation of a witness who is mentally disordered, mentally vulnerable, or a juvenile … must take place in the presence of an appropriate adult.
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If a procedure in this code requires a persons consent, how would we obtain the consent of a mentally disordered/vulnerable person or a juvenile?
Mentally vulnerable - in presence of an AA
Juvenile - only valid if consent of parent/guardian also obtained
If juvenile under 14 then consent of parent/guardian is enough on its own
What if parent/guardian of juvenile does not consent to ID prodecures?
The S3.21 can apply - when suspect ia not avail/ ceased to be avail and video or group ID procedures can be done with use of still images
Examples of when it is not practicable to obtain a detainees consent to search, examine or take a photo of an identifying mark on a person…
And also when not practicable to obtain persons consent to a photo being taken….
When the person is drunk or otherwise unfit
When there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the person would take steps to prevent it happening eg by violently resisting, covering or concealing the mark and it would not otherwise be possible
Re juvenile - if parent/guardian cannot be contacted in sufficient time to allow the search/examination/photograph to be carried out
Re taking photo - all above, plus, when in order to obtain suitable photo it is necessary to take it covertly
Where an appropriate adult for a juvenile is not the parent/guardian/representative of local authority (if in care).. then the parent/guardian/local authority do NOT need to be present to give consent …..
They DO however need to be fully informed before being asked to give consent and must be given the same information about the procedure and the juveniles suspected involvement as has been given to the juvenile and AA.
Consent may be obtained at anytime before the procedure takes place.
The parent/guardian must be allowed to speak to the juvenile and AA if they so wish.
ABE guidelines (youth justice and criminal evidence act) re guidance on interviewing victims and witnesses indicate that a pre trial support person should accompany a vulnerable witness during any ID procedure
This support person should not be a witness in the investigation (or likely to be)
Key factor to consider when deciding if to hold an ID parade?
Whether a failure to hold a parade could be a matter of genuine potential prejudice to the suspect
All reasonable steps should be taken to investigate the possibility of one ID option before moving on to another…
An offer by a suspects solicitor to find volunteers to stand on parade is such a reasonable step
R v britton & richards
What if suspect does not consent to ID procedures?
Refusal can be given in evidence at court.
Can use still images of the suspect taken from custody, cctv, video recorder interviews
Power under S61(6a) PACE paragraph 4.3 (e) allows what?
Fingerprints to be taken of a suspect who has not yet been arrested, to check as to the identity of that person…
if their identity cannot be readily ascertained, or the constable has reasonable grounds for doubting wether a name given is their real name
Can use a mobile device to so a street check of fingerprints against the database
Fingerprints must be destroyed after they have been checked
What can a Speculative search be done on
Fingerprints
DNA
Footwear impressions
For persons suspected of committing and offence but not arrested, charged or informed they will be charged, may be subject to a speculative search only if they consent in wriring.
Recordable offence…
Offences for which Convictions, reprimands and warnings may be recorded in national police records.
Any offences which carry a sentence of imprisonment on conviction
(Plus non imprisonable offences under vagrancy act, street offences act, RTA and more)
A qualifying offence…
Offences which involve the use or threat of violence or unlawful force against persons, sexual offences, offences against children and others such as murder, manslaughter, false imprisonment, kidnapping, threats to kill, consipracy to murder, GBH and ABH, posession of firearms, robbery, burglary, taking/posessing indecent images, rape, sexual assault, exposure, child sex offences
A search/ examination of a detainee to find marks in order to establish identity may be carried out without consent if authorised by who?
Inspector
S54a pace
Extent of search is no more than the officer considers necessary to achieve the required purpose
Such marks located may be photographed with or without consent
Officer may use reaosnable force if required where a person is unwilling to cooperate
A detainee may only be searched/ examined or photographed by an officer of the same sex
S54a PACE
S64 PACE…
An officer may photograph any person detained at a police station…
And any person detained elsewhere than a police station who has been arrested, given direction under s27 violent crime reduction act, given a pnd
Taken with or without consent
Officer may require the person to remove any item or substance worn on, or over, all or part.of their head or face
If a suspect is at station voluntarily and not detained, force MAY NOT be used to do what?
Search/examine for marks to identify them
Take photos of identifying marks
Take a photo of the person
Code d s5.22: Photos of persons or of their identifying marks not taken in accordance with pace code d s5.1 (detained persons) or s5.12 (persons detained elsewhere ie given pnd etc)… must be destroyed unless…
The person is charged or informed they may be prosecuted
Is prosecuted
Is cautioned
Or gives consent for photos to be retained
When a photo is to be destroyed under code D S5.22 (person not detained), the person must be given an opportunity to witneas the destruction
Or to have a certificate confirming destruction…
When request certificate?
They must request the certificate within 5 days of being informed the destruction is required
A photograph taken under S54a PACE may be used or disclosed to any person, for any purpose relating to what….
The prevention or detection of crime
The investigation of an offence
The conduct of a prosecution
The use of the photo is for any conduct which constitutes a criminal offence
There is NO power to arrest someone convicted of an offence solely to take their photograph.
The power only applies when they are in custody as a result of exercising another power.
Identification by body samples…
Intimate sample
Non imtimate sample
Intimate.. dental, blood, semen, tissue, fluid, urine, pubic hair, or swab from genitals or a person’s body orifice (other than mouth)
Non imtimate …. sample of hair (non pubic), nail sample, swab body part (excluding those classed as intimate parts), saliva, skin impression (i.e of foot)
In using intimate/non imtimate samples in evidence… DNA alone is not sufficient for a conviction.. need supporting evidence.
In using such examples to prove ID, the prosecution will give evidence of..
The probability of such a match happening by chance and
The liklihood that the person responsible was in fact the defendant
Non imtimate samples.
Consent required from detainee.. unless …
If arrested for recordable offence and has not had a non intimate sample of the same type and same body part taken in the course of the investigation
Had sample taken before and it proved insufficient
If person held on authority of a court and and inspector authorises it (as suspects detainee may be involved in recorded offence and believe sample will prove or disprove
Or if person had sample before but nfa’d and samole destroyed, then arrested again for same offence
Pace s63a (4) provide powers to make a requirement for attend to attend police station for non intimate samples..
Time limits …
6mths from day the investigating officer was told the previous sample was insufficient/not suitable
For DNA that has been destroyed prior to resuming an investigation… not more than 6 mths from date the investigation resumed.
Person charged with recordable offence - not more than 6mths from day the person was charged /informed reported
Code D annex G deals with requirement for person to attend police station for fingerprints and samples
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Code D annex F deals with destruction and speculative searches
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Video identification
Arrangements for obtaining and ensuring suitable set of images… responsibility of who?
How mang people involved in video ID?
Responsibility of identification officer with no direct involvement in case
Suspect plus at least 8 other people who resemble the suspect in age, general appearance , and position in life.