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Crimes (Forensic Procedures) Act 2000
53People who may carry out forensic procedures
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53 People who may carry out forensic procedures
(1) Table 53 shows, for each forensic procedure, the people who may
carry out the procedure under this Act.
(2) A person not mentioned in table 53, column 3 is not authorised to
carry out a forensic procedure under this Act except as mentioned in
section 55 (Person may get help to carry out forensic procedure).
(3) Table 53, column 4 shows, for each forensic procedure, whether a
doctor or dentist of the relevant person’s choice may be present while
the forensic procedure is carried out.
Note Section 56 makes detailed provisions for the presence of a doctor or
dentist of the relevant person’s choice while a forensic procedure is
(4) This section does not prevent a relevant person from carrying out a
forensic procedure mentioned in table 53, item 3, column 2 on himself
or herself under the supervision of an appropriately qualified person.
Table 53 People involved in forensic procedures
item
1 external examination of—
item
2 taking sample of blood • doctor
3 taking sample of saliva or
sample by buccal swab
• dental
technician
yes, doctor or
dentist
4 taking sample of pubic hair • doctor
5 taking sample by swab or
washing from—
• external genital or anal
area
item
6 taking sample by vacuum
suction, scraping or lifting by
tape from—
• external genital or anal
area
7 taking dental impression • doctor
• dental
technician
yes, dentist
8 taking photograph or video
recording of, or impression or
cast of, wound from—
item
9 external examination of part
of body (other than—
that requires touching of body
or removal of clothing
no
10 taking sample of hair (other
than pubic hair)
no
11 taking sample from nail or
from under nail
no
item
12 taking sample by swab or
washing from any external
part of body (other than—
no
13 taking sample by vacuum
suction, scraping or lifting by
tape from any external part of
body (other than—
no
14 taking handprint, fingerprint,
footprint or toeprint
no
item
15 taking photograph or video
recording of, or impression or
cast of wound from, external
part of body (other than—
no
Note Appropriately qualified person is defined in s 13.