Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995

284 Evidence in relation to fingerprints.S

(1)For the purposes of any criminal proceedings, a certificate purporting to be signed by two constables and certifying that the fingerprints produced thereon were taken from a person designated in the certificate at a time, date and place specified therein shall, subject to subsection (2) below, be sufficient evidence of the facts contained in the certificate.

(2)A party proposing to rely on subsection (1) above (“the first party”) shall, not less than 14 days before the trial diet, serve on the other party (“the second party”) a copy of the certificate and, if the second party serves on the first party, not more than seven days after the date of service of the copy certificate on him, a notice that he does not accept the evidence contained in the certificate, subsection (1) above shall not apply in relation to that evidence.

(3)A copy certificate or notice served in accordance with subsection (2) above shall be served in such manner as may be prescribed by Act of Adjournal; and a written execution purporting to be signed by the person who served the copy or notice together with, where appropriate, the relevant post office receipt shall be sufficient evidence of such service.