Written Question · S2W-20247 · Session 2
What information it is able to provide on any fingerprint experts working in any of the fingerprint bureaux outside of the Scottish Crimina…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it is able to provide on any fingerprint experts working in any of the fingerprint bureaux outside of the Scottish Criminal Records Office (SCRO) who have disagreed with any of the SCRO experts fingerprint identifications in the last 10 years, on what the level of disagreement was and on what measures were taken to resolve these disagreements.
The answer
The only known incidents concernthe case of Shirley McKie when staff at Aberdeen and Edinburgh subsequently formed an opinion which differed from theoriginal identification made by their colleagues in Glasgow.
During the past 10 years, underthe guidance and instruction of the Lord Advocate, more than 2,000 identificationsmade by experts in Glasgow were verified by experts from the Metropolitan PoliceService and the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
In addition, fingerprint experts now have annual competency tests andare subject to a Continuous Professional Development Programme. The processes usedare subject to internal quality assurance and to external independent audit underthe ISO 9001:2000 Certificate to which the Scottish Fingerprint Service is accredited.
During the past 10 years, underthe guidance and instruction of the Lord Advocate, more than 2,000 identificationsmade by experts in Glasgow were verified by experts from the Metropolitan PoliceService and the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
In addition, fingerprint experts now have annual competency tests andare subject to a Continuous Professional Development Programme. The processes usedare subject to internal quality assurance and to external independent audit underthe ISO 9001:2000 Certificate to which the Scottish Fingerprint Service is accredited.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S2W-20247 by reference.