Background and Overview Fingerprints and samples etc
4.The Act contains provisions to give additional powers to the police to take fingerprints and DNA samples from people who have been arrested, charged or convicted in the UK, and from those convicted overseas of serious sexual and violent offences.
5.In response to the European Court of Human Rights judgment in the case of S and Marper v United Kingdom [2008] ECHR 1581, the Act also sets out a statutory framework for the retention and destruction of biometric material, including DNA samples, DNA profiles and fingerprints, that has been taken from an individual as part of the investigation of a recordable offence. These powers were consulted upon in the Keeping the Right People on the DNA Database paper published in May 2009.