Loss of evidence puts justice system at risk

THREE quarters of police say they have seen evidence lost or destroyed, as a report reveals negligent forces are “the blind leading the blind”.

The research by Inside Justice, which looked at all 43 English and Welsh police forces, found 77 per cent of officers they asked had been unable to locate exhibits.

Two thirds had seen evidence stored incorrectly, often directly impacting the outcome of investigations.

Officers in cases including murder and sex offences said that forces did not understand the consequences of mistreating evidence.

Justice charities have told The Telegraph that “confidence in the whole criminal justice system is at stake”.

And almost three quarters of criminal justice practitioners, such as lawyers, had worked on cases where evidence had been lost, contaminated or even destroyed.

A third were unable to appeal against a conviction because of missing evidence. The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) issues strict guidance on how evidence such as swabs, weapons and clothing must be stored.

For the most serious cases, such as murder, evidence should be kept for 30 years before it is reviewed.

Freedom of Information requests have revealed that only eight forces cited this NPCC guidance for storing evidence, with some forces saying they follow out of date or irrelevant guidelines.

Statements given to Inside Justice and Northumbria University revealed that officers in UK forces are aware of the poor practice.

A senior homicide, child abuse and counter-terrorism officer said: “You literally had to squeeze exhibits into places with other evidence – that’s cross-contamination.”

Louise Shorter, founder of Inside Justice, said: “If evidence is destroyed or not kept properly, criminals may evade conviction or innocent people in jail can’t be freed.”

The Home Office said: “Any investigating officer has a duty to record and retain evidence.”