2007-03-28 08:11:00 · 19 answers · asked by tabby1 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Sorry they have them know for life.
2007-03-28 08:15:19 · answer #1 · answered by ♥shushin♥ 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The law has changed since your fingerprints were taken. If you were found guilty of the offence, or cautioned, then they will be kept forever, if not, they should have been destroyed at the time. It is likely that this is the case as back in 1984 the UK law stated that prints were only usually taken when you were charged or cautioned.
Now, if you are arrested for a recordable offence - broadly speaking (but not conclusive) an offence for which the police have to create a crime report - not traffic matters (except drink driving), your prints, DNA and photograph will be kept forever, after they have been searched against records from outstanding crime scenes.
2007-03-28 12:28:31 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Under the police and criminal evidence act the fingerprints stay on for life.
When the fingerprints were taken, there is a provision under law for that to be explained to you
It says
"these fingerprints will form part of a collection, as such they may be used by police and other law enforcement agencies for crime reduction and detection purposes"
and you would have had to sign that.
so the definitiv answer is, they stay on there for ever, despite the type of offence or the age of the offender.
2007-03-29 05:34:09 · answer #3 · answered by the mofo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Canada your prints will be kept forever if the offence was committed as an adult. If the offence was committed as a young offender (12-17 yrs) you can ask that the prints be destroyed once you are 18yrs (our police service does not do this automatically, you have to ask to have them destroyed).
2007-03-28 08:28:31 · answer #4 · answered by joeanonymous 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your prints are kept until you die.They are kept to prove conviction if you get into trouble again they use them to prove you are the same person as on your criminal record.At 17 years he would be adult in law if he had been juvenile in 1984 he could have had them destroyed at 17yrs old but that has all changed now.
2007-03-29 04:53:48 · answer #5 · answered by frankturk50 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will now be in the government FORVER. Unless, of course, you break into their government computer files and erase yours. I doubt you can do that, though, sorry. They'll also be yours forever. (well, skeletons don't have fingerprints, seeing as all their skin has rotted away) Well, as long as you live, your fingerprints will be just the same as the day they were recorded and put into the government files.
2007-03-28 08:20:25 · answer #6 · answered by R Paige 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If the print is scanned into a computer system it can last for ever. Not sure if there is a law governing how long prints can be held before they have to be destroyed, probably not.
2007-03-28 08:15:26 · answer #7 · answered by mince42 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The prints will be on the system for life now, there is no way to have them removed and they will be continually searched as comparison prints.
2007-03-29 02:06:49 · answer #8 · answered by rick_wenham 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Once in the fingerprint trap never out.
2007-03-28 08:33:25 · answer #9 · answered by Sgt 524 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the police have them on file then they have them for life. Your finger prints are unique to you and never change in design or pattern
2007-03-28 08:19:56 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
They usually purge fingerprint files every 50 years. No kidding.
2007-03-28 08:48:12 · answer #11 · answered by Quasimodo 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋