Direct Communications Unit

2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF

Switchboard 020 7035 4848 Fax: 020 7035 4745 Textphone: 020 7035 4742

E-mail: [email address] Website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

[FOI #12552 email]

Mr Ben Addison

Reference: T9535/9

Dear Mr Addison,

Thank you for your e-mail of 09/06/2009 1:00:28 PM about whether a NGO (non-government organisation) assisting police in a criminal case would be biased or show a conflict of interest if the DNA techniques used had been funded by the NGO.

The admissibility of evidence gathered during the course of an investigation is a matter for a court to determine. Section 78 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 provides that a court may refuse to allow evidence in any proceedings if the admission of such evidence would have an adverse effect on the fairness of proceedings.

If you are dissatisfied with this response you may request an independent internal review of our handling of your request by submitting your complaint within two months to the address below quoting reference 12256

Information Rights Team
Information and Record Management Service
Home Office
4th Floor, Seacole Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF

Email: [email address]

During the independent review the department's handling of your information request will be reassessed by staff who were not involved in providing you with this response. Should you remain dissatisfied after this internal review, you will have a right of complaint to the Information Commissioner as established by section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act.

Yours sincerely,

Shanaz Khanche

Policing Powers and Protection Unit