Forensics at the Police Station - A Bitesized Update

Introduction

This short webinar is aimed at those advising at the police station stage and will deal with the issue of advising on forensics. It is really important that you fully appreciate your client’s room for manoeuvre in relation to any requests that may be made of him/her of a forensic nature whilst in police detention.

The webinar will also cover the very interesting case of Regina v Belhaj-Farhat, a Court of Appeal decision which considered the evidential value of DNA found on an item easily transferable from place to place.

What You Will Learn

This webinar will cover the following:

• The evidential value of DNA found on a rolled-up cigarette in a flat which had been recently burgled - Regina v Belhaj-Farhat
• The client’s room for manoeuvre, if any, where there is a request from the police for intimate samples
• The client’s room for manoeuvre, if any, where there is a request from the police for non-intimate samples
• The evidential value of samples where the client is prepared to say in the interview that the sexual act took place
• The speculative search
• Using reasonable force pursuant to Section 117 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
• Inviting the client to come to the police station in order to provide fingerprints, photograph and a DNA sample - changes made to Schedule 2A of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 as a result of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022
• Retention by the police of fingerprints and DNA - a working knowledge of Section 65A of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
• Codes D and G of the Codes of Practice issued under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
• Advising on adverse inferences in the area of forensics
• The relevant Sections of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
• Advising volunteers at the police station stage as opposed to those who are being detained under arrest for a recordable offence

This webinar was recorded on 2nd September 2024

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