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Best, Harold
Type
House
Session
Year
Department
Member
Primary member
More
Best, Harold (6)
Answering member
Legislative stage
Legislation
Subject
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To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what (a) forensic and (b) other assistance is being provided by the UK for the (i) uncovering and (ii) investigation of mass graves in Iraq. - Inc figure.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what (a) forensic and (b) other assistance is being provided by the UK for the (i) uncovering and (ii) investigation of mass graves in Iraq. - Inc figure.
Asked by
Harold Best
(Labour)
Answered by
Bill Rammell
(Labour)
Answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
3 November 2004
For answer on
10 November 2004
Answered on
10 November 2004
Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) forensic and (b) other
assistance is being provided by the UK for the (i) uncovering and (ii) investigation of mass graves in Iraq. [196860]
Mr. Rammell: The UK provided a forensic assessment team under the Coalition Provisional Authority, which was involved in recording
and assessing reported mass gravesites. Overall the UK has allocated some £2 million to support the Iraqis in dealing with
the issue of mass graves. This includes funding to support the development of a comprehensive mass grave action plan and to train a
full Iraqi forensic investigation team.
Subjects
Criminal investigation; Crimes against humanity; Finance; Evidence; Forensic science; Homicide; Iraq
Date
10 November 2004
Reference
426 c722W;426 c726W; 196860
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many DNA samples taken by the police have been destroyed in each of the last five years; and under whose authority in each case. - Inc table.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many DNA samples taken by the police have been destroyed in each of the last five years; and under whose authority in each case. - Inc table.
Asked by
Harold Best
(Labour)
Answered by
Hazel Blears
(Labour)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
20 April 2004
For answer on
29 April 2004
Answered on
29 April 2004
Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many DNA samples taken by the police have been destroyed in each
of the last five years; and under whose authority in each case. [167728]
Ms Blears: DNA samples are destroyed and the record of the profile derived from them is removed from the National DNA Database under
the authorisation of the police force which submitted the DNA sample for analysis.
Prior to May 2001, DNA samples obtained from persons who were charged or prosecuted and who were subsequently acquitted or against
whom charges were dropped had to be destroyed. An amendment to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 by the Criminal Justice and
Police Act 2001 removed this requirement in respect of England and Wales but not Scotland. Samples may therefore have been destroyed
and the profiles removed from the Database for one or more of the following reasons: they are duplicate records from the same
individual, the individual has been acquitted or charges not proceeded with, the samples were taken in error, or the death of the
individual.
The police also instruct the laboratory which carried out the DNA analysis to destroy all of the residual retained sample. Records
of samples destroyed are not held centrally.
The number of subject profile records removed from the National DNA Database over the past five years was as follows:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Number of records removed
2003-04 22,976
2002-03 21,229
2001-02 25,830
2000-01 77,336
1999-2000 59,957
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Subjects
Databases; Evidence; Genetics; Identification of criminals
Date
29 April 2004
Reference
420 c1296W; 167728
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for how long DNA samples are held by the Forensic Science Service.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for how long DNA samples are held by the Forensic Science Service.
Asked by
Harold Best
(Labour)
Answered by
Hazel Blears
(Labour)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
4 February 2004
For answer on
11 February 2004
Answered on
11 February 2004
Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how long DNA samples are held by the Forensic Science Service.
[153767]
Ms Blears: Retention periods depend on the purpose for which the sample was taken, and are as follows: Crime scene samples on
unsolved cases may be kept indefinitely, especially for the more serious cases. For crime scene samples on solved cases the usual
retention period is seven years, but it may be up to 30 years for the serious cases in the event of a possible miscarriage of
justice and to capitalise on new scientific developments. Following amendment of Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 by the
Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 samples of suspects can now be held indefinitely. Where individuals have volunteered to provide
samples for intelligence purposes these may also be retained indefinitely provided the individual has given their written consent
for its retention.
Subjects
Databases; Criminal investigation; Evidence; Forensic science; Genetics; Storage; Forensic Science Service
Date
11 February 2004
Reference
417 c1501-2W; 153767
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the storage of DNA samples by the Forensic Science Service.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the storage of DNA samples by the Forensic Science Service.
Asked by
Harold Best
(Labour)
Answered by
Hazel Blears
(Labour)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
4 February 2004
For answer on
11 February 2004
Answered on
11 February 2004
Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the storage of DNA samples by the
Forensic Science Service. [153768]
Ms Blears: The laboratories that analyse DNA samples, including those within the Forensic Science Service, are also responsible for
their retention, integrity, security and, where appropriate, their destruction. The conditions under which these laboratories store
such samples must fulfil the requirements of the International Quality Standard ISO 17025 and the Data Protection Act 1998.
In addition, it is a specific requirement of the Custodian of the National DNA Database that DNA samples taken for entry on to the
Database are kept in a managed storage system at a temperature below -15oC in access-controlled, physically secure accommodation.
Laboratories are required to undertake periodic monitoring of the samples and their compliance with the International Quality
Standard ISO 17025 is independently audited at least annually by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service.
Subjects
Databases; Criminal investigation; Evidence; Forensic science; Genetics; Storage; Forensic Science Service
Date
11 February 2004
Reference
417 c1502W; 153768
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many mass grave sites have been discovered in Iraq since the start of the recent conflict; and what steps are being taken by the occupying powers to (a) protect and secure the sites, (b) identify the victims and...
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many mass grave sites have been discovered in Iraq since the start of the recent conflict; and what steps are being taken by the occupying powers to (a) protect and secure the sites, (b) identify the victims and...
Asked by
Harold Best
(Labour)
Answered by
Bill Rammell
(Labour)
Answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
1 July 2003
For answer on
7 July 2003
Answered on
7 July 2003
Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many mass grave sites have been discovered in Iraq
since the start of the recent conflict; and what steps are being taken by the occupying powers to (a) protect and secure the sites,
(b) identify the victims and (c) bring criminal charges against the perpetrators. [123689]
Mr. Rammell: To date 86 mass graves have been reported. Approximately 50 have been, or are currently, under investigation by
coalition forces, who have been tasked with securing and protecting evidence of legacy crimes.
We have sent a team of nine UK forensic experts to Iraq to investigate legacy crimes and mass graves. We are currently studying
their recommendations for a long-term strategy for dealing with forensically important sites in Iraq and for further UK assistance
in this area.
We have always believed that those who have been responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes should be brought
to justice. We believe it should be for the Iraqi people to decide how to bring those responsible to justice, with suitable
international help.
Subjects
Crimes against humanity; Evidence; Iraq; Iraq conflict; Human remains
Date
7 July 2003
Reference
123689; 408 c579W;408 c576-7W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures he has taken to make it easier for vulnerable witnesses to give evidence in court; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures he has taken to make it easier for vulnerable witnesses to give evidence in court; and if he will make a statement.
Asked by
Harold Best
(Labour)
Answered by
Paul Goggins
(Labour)
Answering body
Home Office
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
9 June 2003
For answer on
23 June 2003
Answered on
23 June 2003
Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he has taken to make it easier for vulnerable
witnesses to give evidence in court; and if he will make a statement. [118775]
Paul Goggins: In July 2002 we started a phased implementation of special measures to assist vulnerable or intimidated witnesses to
give their best evidence. Vulnerable witness--who are defined by section 16 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 as
being persons (not the accused) who are aged under 17 years or whose quality of evidence would be diminished by reasons of a mental
disorder, or impairment of intelligence and social functioning, or a physical condition or disorder--can now apply for the following
special measures in the Crown Court: Screens--to ensure that the witness does not see the defendant; Live TV link--allowing a
witness to give evidence from outside the court; Clearing the court so that evidence can be given in private; Removal of wigs and
gowns in court; Video recorded evidence in chief--allowing an interview with the witness, which has been video recorded before the
trial, to be shown as the witness's evidence in chief; and Use of communication aids.
The magistrates' courts, implementation has been limited so far to live link and video recorded evidence in chief for witnesses aged
under 17 in certain categories of case, including sexual and violence offences. Further rollout of the special measures is planned
for 2003-04 following evaluation of the first phase.
Two of the special measures--video recorded pre- trial cross-examination and examination of the witness through an intermediary--are
novel and complex and will be the subject of pilot projects before they are introduced nationally. Preparations are being made for
intermediary pilots to begin later this year. A scoping study on options for piloting video recorded pre-trial cross-examination
will be commissioned shortly.
Subjects
Evidence; Intimidation; Protection; Witnesses; Trials
Date
23 June 2003
Reference
118775; 407 c604-5W;407 c606-7W
House
House of Commons