Lawyer raises alarm over mass fingerprinting by cops

A PROMINENT attorney has raised concerns that the police have used a two-month state of emergency to amass thousands of fingerprints obtained from detainees.

This comes in response to speculation raised by lawyers representing detainees that the police are using their fingerprints and photographs to compile a national database.

Attorney-at-law Bert Samuels said this power, which he described as "worrying", is contained in Section 31, Subsection 4 of the Emergency Powers Act.

"For the State to have my fingerprint when I am not convicted of any offence goes against the principles of the presumption of innocence," said Samuels.

This, he pointed out, is in contrast to what obtains outside the authorisation of emergency powers given to the police, where only a judge can issue an order for someone to be photographed and fingerprinted.

Destruction deadline

In addition, Samuels said without a state of emergency, the photograph and fingerprint of an accused person have to be destroyed within three months of being acquitted by the courts.

"So the police can now do what judges normally are allowed to do," the attorney said.

Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Glenmore Hinds and Assistant Commissioner of Police Justin Felice both declined to comment.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding told Parliament on Tuesday that, up to last Wednesday, 4,181 persons have been detained since the state of emergency was imposed on May 23.