You do not have to participate in line-ups, and police must get your permission before taking any photographs of you. If you aren’t sure of your rights, contact Vanessa Ash day or night for legal advice.

     Police line-ups
An identification parade is where you get put into a line of people and a witness is asked to identify the person they believe committed the offence. You don’t have to do this, and it could result in you being picked – if you did or didn’t do the crime, you never want to be picked, since it adds to the prosecution’s case against you. You need legal advice before participating in a police lineup.

     Photos
Police are able to take a photo of your face for identification purposes in a police cell and if you are released on bail with conditions that you must report back to the police station (so they can identify you upon your return).

You are able to refuse to have your photo taken, as it might be used as evidence. You can refuse to allow photos of injuries or special features that identify you like tattoos or scars. You cannot be forced to have your photo taken, and you can make a complaint if a police officer photographs you without your permission.

A court order can be made whereby you are forced to have your photo taken, but this usually takes some time and you should have your lawyer present. Contact Vanessa Ash if you do not have adequate legal representation.

Get sound legal advice from an experienced lawyer. Contact Vanessa Ash.