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Crimes (Forensic Procedures) Act 2000
54Sex of person carrying out or helping carry out forensic
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54 Sex of person carrying out or helping carry out forensic
(1) If a forensic procedure is to be carried out on a relevant person, the
person carrying it out, and anyone asked under section 55 to help
carry it out, must, if practicable, be of the same sex as the relevant
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply—
(a) to the taking of a handprint, fingerprint, footprint or toeprint; or
(b) to any other non-intimate forensic procedure that may be carried
out without—
(i) touching the relevant person; or
(ii) requiring the relevant person to remove any clothing (other
than his or her overcoat, coat, jacket, gloves, socks, shoes
and hat); or
(c) if the relevant person consents to a person other than a person of
the same sex as the relevant person carrying out, or helping to
carry out, the forensic procedure.
(3) If the person on whom a forensic procedure is to be carried out is a
volunteer—
(a) the volunteer may ask that a person other than a person of the
same sex as the volunteer carry out, or help carry out, the
(b) if practicable, any such request must be complied with, despite
subsection (1).
(4) However, if the relevant person is a child—
(a) the person carrying out the forensic procedure must ask the
child, before the procedure is carried out, if the child wants a
person of a particular sex to carry out, or help carry out, the
(b) if the child asks for a person of a particular sex to carry out, or
help carry out, the forensic procedure, a person of that sex must,
if practicable, carry out, or help carry out, the procedure.