Commentary on Sections Independent Police Complaints Commission Section 145: Power to retain fingerprints or DNA profile in connection with different offence
422.This section substitutes a new section 63P into PACE. New section 63P provides that fingerprints or a DNA profile taken in connection with the investigation of one offence are to be treated as if they were taken in connection with the investigation of any other offence that the person is subsequently arrested for, charged with, convicted of or given a penalty notice for. This means that provisions in PACE for the retention of fingerprints or DNA profiles where there is a criminal conviction will apply in such cases, without the need for a causal link between the arrest in respect of which the fingerprints and DNA profiles were taken and the subsequent offence.