Forensics unit can keep samples for year as rape victim decides on reporting crime

Victims of sexual crime can now have biological evidence samples stored by sexual assault units for up to a year, while they decide whether or not they want to report the incident to gardaí.

Forensic evidence deteriorates quickly — often within a week if the victim washes or showers. Therefore, international best practice advocates collection and secure storage of samples as soon as possible after the incident.

Until now, the alleged victims had to decide very quickly whether they would report the matter to gardaí or not. That was because, if they did, the sample taken by the country’s six sexual assault treatment units (SATUs) needed to be handed over to gardaí so it could be securely stored by the Garda Forensics Unit in Phoenix Park in Dublin.