Fingerprint retention policy to change

GARDA power to hold on to fingerprints of suspects indefinitely is due to end under planned changes to the law, the Irish Examiner understands.

The Garda fingerprint database – AFIS – is to be brought in line with the proposed powers for the retention of DNA samples, as set out in the DNA Database Bill, published last week.

The original provisions in the DNA bill was to retain indefinitely DNA data of people arrested for a serious offence, but subsequently not charged, or acquitted.