Part 3 Other forms of assistance

Forms of assistance

29 Taking or production of evidence

(1) This section applies where the Secretary of State receives a request from the ICC for assistance in the taking or production of evidence.
For this purpose “evidence” includes documents and other articles.
(2) The Secretary of State may nominate a court in England and Wales or Northern Ireland to receive the evidence to which the request relates.
(3) For this purpose the nominated court—
(a) has the same powers with respect to securing the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents or other articles as it has for the purpose of other proceedings before the court; and
(b) may take evidence on oath.
(4) A person shall not be compelled to give evidence or produce anything in proceedings under this section that he could not be compelled to give or produce in criminal proceedings in the part of the United Kingdom in which the nominated court has jurisdiction.
(5) If in order to comply with the request it is necessary for the evidence received by the court to be verified in any manner, the notice nominating the court shall specify the nature of the verification required.
(6) No order for costs shall be made in proceedings under this section.

30 Taking or production of evidence: further provisions

(1) The following provisions apply in relation to proceedings before a nominated court under section 29 and the evidence received in the proceedings.
(2) The court may, if it thinks it necessary in order to protect—
(a) victims and witnesses, or a person alleged to have committed an ICC crime, or
(b) confidential or sensitive information,
direct that the public be excluded from the court.
(3) The court shall ensure that a register is kept of the proceedings that indicates, in particular—
(a) which persons with an interest in the proceedings were present,
(b) which of those persons were represented and by whom, and
(c) whether any of those persons was denied the opportunity of cross-examining a witness as to any part of his testimony.
(4) The register shall not be open to inspection except as authorised by the Secretary of State or with the leave of the court.
(5) A copy of the register of the proceedings shall be sent to the Secretary of State for transmission to the ICC.

Part 3 Other forms of assistance

Forms of assistance

34 Taking of fingerprints or non-intimate sample

(1) The provisions of Schedule 4 have effect with respect to the taking of fingerprints or a non-intimate sample in response to a request from the ICC for assistance in obtaining evidence as to the identity of a person.
(2) In subsection (1) and that Schedule “fingerprints” and “non-intimate sample” have the meaning given by section 65 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 or, in Northern Ireland, Article 53 of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989.

SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 4 TAKING OF FINGERPRINTS OR NON-INTIMATE SAMPLES

Nomination of court to supervise taking of evidence

1 (1) Where the Secretary of State receives a request from the ICC for assistance in obtaining evidence as to the identity of a person, he may nominate a court in England and Wales or Northern Ireland to supervise the taking of the person’s fingerprints or a non-intimate sample (or both).
(2) He shall not do so unless—
(a) he is satisfied that other means of identification have been tried and have proved inconclusive, and
(b) he has notified the ICC of that fact and the ICC has signified that it wishes to proceed with the request.

Order to provide evidence

2 (1) The nominated court may order the taking by a constable of the person’s fingerprints or a non-intimate sample (or both).
(2) In the case of a non-intimate sample—
(a) the sample must be a sufficient sample within the meaning of section 65 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60) or, in Northern Ireland, Article 53 of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/1341 (N.I.12)), and
(b) section 63A(2) of that Act or, in Northern Ireland, Article 63A(2) of that Order applies as to the manner of taking the sample.
(3) In the following provisions of this Schedule “the necessary identification evidence” means the fingerprints or sample (or both) required by the order of the nominated court.

Requirement to attend and provide evidence

3 (1) The order of the nominated court may require the person to attend a police station to provide the necessary identification evidence.
(2) Any such requirement—
(a) shall give the person at least seven days within which he must so attend, and
(b) may direct him to attend at a specified time of day or between specified times of day.
(3) If the person fails to attend in accordance with the order—
(a) the nominated court may issue a warrant for his arrest, and
(b) the person may be detained for such period as is necessary to enable the necessary identification evidence to be taken.
The court shall inform the person concerned of the effect of this sub-paragraph.
(4) Sub-paragraphs (1) to (3) do not apply where the person concerned is in prison or is otherwise lawfully detained.
In that case the necessary identification evidence may be taken at the place where he is detained or at such other place as the nominated court may direct.

Consent to taking of evidence

4 (1) The necessary identification evidence may be taken—
(a) with the appropriate consent given in writing, or
(b) without that consent, in accordance with paragraph 5.
(2) In sub-paragraph (1) “the appropriate consent” has the meaning given by section 65 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 or, in Northern Ireland, Article 53 of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989.
(3) The court shall inform the person concerned of the effect of this paragraph.

Taking of evidence without consent

5 (1) A constable may, if authorised by an officer of the rank of superintendent or above, take the necessary identification evidence without consent.
(2) An officer may give an authorisation under sub-paragraph (1) orally or in writing, but if he gives it orally he shall confirm it in writing as soon as is reasonably practicable.
(3) Before fingerprints or a sample are taken from a person upon an authorisation given under sub-paragraph (1), he shall be informed that the authorisation has been given.

Record of certain matters to be made

6 (1) After fingerprints or a sample are taken under this Schedule, there shall be recorded as soon as is reasonably practicable any of the following which apply—
(a) the fact that the appropriate consent has been given,
(b) any authorisation given under paragraph 5(1), and
(c) the fact that the person has been informed under paragraph 5(3) of the giving of such authorisation.
(2) A copy of the record shall be sent to the Secretary of State for transmission to the ICC together with the material obtained under this Schedule.

Checking of fingerprints or samples

7 (1) This paragraph applies to—
(a) fingerprints or samples taken under this Schedule, and
(b) information derived from such samples.
(2) The fingerprints, samples or information may be used only for the purpose of an investigation into a relevant offence.
(3) In particular, a check may not be made against them under—
(a) section 63A(1) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60) (checking of fingerprints and samples), or
(b) Article 63A(1) of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/1341 (N.I. 12)) (checking of fingerprints and samples),
except for the purpose of an investigation into a relevant offence.
(4) The fingerprints, samples or information may be checked, subject to sub-paragraph (2), against—
(a) other fingerprints or samples taken under this Schedule or information derived from such samples,
(b) any of the fingerprints, samples and information mentioned in section 63A(1)(a) and (b) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (checking of fingerprints and samples), and
(c) any of the fingerprints, samples and information mentioned in Article 63A(1)(a) and (b) of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (checking of fingerprints and samples).
(5) For the purposes of this paragraph a “relevant offence” means an ICC crime or an offence under Part 5 of this Act.
(6) Before fingerprints or a sample are taken from a person under this Schedule, he shall be informed that they may be used as mentioned in this paragraph.

Destruction of fingerprints and samples

8 Section 64 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 or Article 64 of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (destruction of fingerprints or samples) applies to fingerprints and samples taken under this Schedule in connection with the investigation of an ICC crime as it applies in relation to fingerprints and samples taken in connection with the investigation of an offence under the law of England and Wales or Northern Ireland.

Article 93
Other forms of cooperation
1. States Parties shall, in accordance with the provisions of this Part and under procedures of national law, comply with requests by the Court to provide the following assistance in relation to investigations or prosecutions:
(b) The taking of evidence, including testimony under oath, and the production of evidence, including expert opinions and reports necessary to the Court