Lord Levy 's arrest...was he fingerprinted and swabbed ??

[Dom Tuk]

Is it standard procedure to fingerprint and DNA swab anyone who is arrested?. In this case it would be appropriate from evidence gathering point of view. 'No I did not see that honours application'....yeah but your fingerprints are on the top right hand of the application. Oh for a front row seat.

[dyli795]

I think it's true to say ; finger prints etc., etc., can only be taken after being formaly charged with a spesific crime.
This isn't true of some European contries however.

[JudgeJ]

See this earlier answer:

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/How-it-Works/Qu estion259500.html

Whether Lord Levy was subjected to the ignominies piled upon the rest of us lesser mortals is anybody's guess!

[Loosehead]

On the news today, it said he had been released on Bail. Perhaps JudgeJ can help here, does that mean he was charged and therefore printed and DNA'd?

[brachiopod]

Unfortunately, not true, dyli. In order to have the right to take fingerprints, DNA swabs etc., the police merely need to arrest you for an "arrestable offence".

The arrest does NOT have to result in a subsequent charge before samples can be taken. What constitutes an "arrestable offence" was recently broadened(in the last year or two) so that the most trivial offences (dropping litter, walking without due care and attention) can be considered 'arrestable' and your DNA well and truly swabbed - whether or not you are eventually charged is irrelevant.

This was all introduced in the name of the war against terrorism, of course.

[Grunty]

Loosehead - as you can see from JudgeJ's link, he does not have to be charged for fingerprints and samples to be taken. That will be done after arrest, even if the arrest was mistaken and the DNA can be kept permanently. Rather than being bailed to a court, it is more likely that he has been bailed to appear at a police station at a later date, after enquiries have been continued. My guess is that the CPS will be asked for an opinion in this complex case before anyone is charged.

Who can see the connection between three facts?
1. DNA samples can be taken after arrest, even if the arrest is wrong, and kept for ever.
2. Anyone can now be arrested for any offence.
3. DNA would be a useful addition to the national identity database.