Skip to content

Non-intimate sample (PACE)

Definition

Under PACE 1984, a sample of hair (other than pubic hair), nail clippings, saliva, a swab from a non-intimate external body surface, or a footprint. May be taken without consent in defined circumstances with superintendent-level authorisation.

Related terms

Bodily autonomy
The principle that a person has sovereign control over their own body and cannot be subjected to physical interference without their consent...
Intimate sample (PACE)
Under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, a sample of blood, semen, or any other tissue fluid, urine, or pubic hair,...
Medical examination order
Under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, a court or magistrate may direct that an accused person be examined by a registered...
Schmerber doctrine
The rule from Schmerber v. California (1966) that a compelled blood draw does not violate the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination because...
Testimonial evidence
Evidence that communicates a fact through the suspect's own mental process or assertion, for example a confession, a password, or a document...

Explained in

  • Bodily Samples: Consent and CompulsionUnder PACE 1984, a sample of hair (other than pubic hair), nail clippings, saliva, a swab from a non-intimate external body surface, or a footprint. May be tak...

Your journey to becoming a forensic professional starts here.

Practice with mock tests, learn from structured notes, and get your questions answered by a global forensic community, all in one place.