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The Fingerprint Inquiry

Completed

Fingerprint Inquiry

Chair Sir Anthony Campbell Judge / Judiciary
Established 12 Mar 2008
Final Report 14 Dec 2011
Commissioned by Scottish Government

The Fingerprint Inquiry examined the circumstances surrounding the fingerprint evidence in the Shirley McKie case, where a Scottish police officer was wrongly accused of leaving her fingerprint at a murder scene. The inquiry made recommendations on fingerprint evidence standards, expert testimony, and quality assurance in forensic science.

Evidence & Impact
The Fingerprint Inquiry, chaired by Sir Anthony Campbell, was established in 2008 by the Scottish Government to examine the McKie fingerprint case — the wrongful identification of a fingerprint found at a murder scene as belonging to Detective Constable Shirley McKie in 1997. The Inquiry reported in December 2011 with nine recommendations aimed at reforming fingerprint analysis practices and governance in Scotland.

All nine recommendations were accepted by the Scottish Government and have been assessed as fully implemented. The reforms included the establishment of an independent quality assurance framework for fingerprint services, the adoption of international best practice standards for fingerprint analysis and reporting, and enhanced training and accreditation requirements for fingerprint experts.

The case had been one of the most controversial forensic science episodes in Scottish legal history, raising fundamental questions about the reliability of fingerprint evidence and the willingness of forensic practitioners to acknowledge error. The Inquiry's recommendations contributed to a broader international movement towards quality assurance in forensic identification, including the adoption of the ACE-V (Analysis, Comparison, Evaluation, Verification) methodology and the move away from the 'numerical standard' that had previously been used in Scotland.

The Fingerprint Inquiry also influenced wider debate about the use of expert evidence in criminal proceedings and the need for forensic science services to operate with independence from police organisations.
Reforms Attributed to This Inquiry
- Independent quality assurance framework for fingerprint services in Scotland
- Adoption of international best practice standards for fingerprint analysis
- Enhanced training and accreditation requirements for fingerprint experts
- Move to ACE-V methodology replacing the previous numerical standard
Unfinished Business
None identified — all nine recommendations have been implemented
Generated 28 Feb 2026 using AI. Assessment is indicative, not authoritative.
3 years, 9 months Duration
Inquiry Website
Government Response
Accepted 9
Total Recommendations 9
Data last updated: 15 Dec 2011
Data verified: 23 Mar 2026 (import)
How to read this

Government Response tracks what the government said it would do (accepted, rejected, etc.).

Full methodology

Title Volume Publication Date Recs Links
The Fingerprint Inquiry Report - 14 Dec 2011 9
18 Mar 2008
Inquiry Announced
01 Jun 2009
Inquiry Established
14 Dec 2011
Final Report Published

Recommendations (9)

FP1
Accepted
Fingerprint evidence as opinion
Recommendation

Fingerprint evidence should be recognised as opinion evidence, not fact, and those involved in the criminal justice system need to assess it as such on its merits.

Published evidence summary
According to Scottish Police Authority Forensic Services, 2016, SPA Forensic Services achieved UKAS accreditation for fingerprint comparisons in 2016, which led to fingerprint evidence being recognised as opinion evidence in Scottish courts. According to Scottish Biometrics Commissioner, 1 Aug 2025, the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner launched a joint assurance review in 2025 to examine ongoing compliance with Inquiry standards, with the review expected to be published in spring 2026.
Scottish Government (Primary)
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FP3
Accepted
Discontinue certainty claims
Recommendation

Examiners should discontinue reporting conclusions on identification or exclusion with a claim to 100% certainty or on any other basis suggesting that fingerprint evidence is infallible.

Published evidence summary
According to Scottish Police Authority Forensic Services, 2016, SPA Forensic Services examiners discontinued reporting conclusions on identification or exclusion with claims to 100% certainty, a practice reformed as part of the UKAS accreditation process for fingerprint comparisons awarded in 2016. According to the available evidence, their fingerprint reporting now follows internationally recognised standards, with UKAS ensuring reporting practices meet accredited standards, and no further published evidence has been identified since 2016.
SPA Forensic Services (Primary)
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FP5
Accepted
Basis of conclusions
Recommendation

Experts should list all variables considered and state whether the conclusion has been reached through training and personal experience or on any other basis such as statistical analysis.

Published evidence summary
According to Scottish Police Authority Forensic Services, 2016, SPA Forensic Services experts are now required to list all variables considered and state the basis for their conclusions, a practice implemented as part of their UKAS-accredited methodology. According to Scottish Police Authority Forensic Services, 2016, UKAS accreditation requirements enforce standardised methodology for fingerprint comparison, including documentation of the analysis process and basis of conclusions, and according to the available evidence, no further published evidence has been identified since 2016.
SPA Forensic Services (Primary)
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FP9
Accepted
Features demonstrable to lay persons
Recommendation

Features on which examiners rely should be demonstrable to a lay person with normal eye sight as observable in the mark.

Published evidence summary
According to the Scottish Police Authority Forensic Services, 2016, SPA Forensic Services implemented reformed presentation standards as part of UKAS-accredited practice, requiring features on which examiners rely to be demonstrable to lay persons. This reform ensures features are observable and demonstrable in court proceedings. No further published evidence has been identified since 2016.
SPA Forensic Services (Primary)
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FP16-18
Accepted
Academic study requirement
Recommendation

Expert opinion should be informed by proper academic study of the subject.

Published evidence summary
According to Scottish Police Authority Forensic Services, 2016, expert opinion in fingerprint examination is now required to be informed by proper academic study, with academic study requirements implemented as part of the reform of forensic science governance in Scotland following the creation of SPA Forensic Services. According to the available evidence, no further published evidence has been identified since 2016.
SPA Forensic Services (Primary)
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FP53
Accepted
Note-taking general practice
Recommendation

Note-taking as to the detail found on analysis and the process of comparison, though not mandatory, should become the general practice for all fingerprint comparison work.

Published evidence summary
According to Scottish Police Authority Forensic Services, 2016, note-taking regarding the detail found on analysis and the process of comparison has become general practice for all fingerprint comparison work within SPA Forensic Services. According to Scottish Police Authority Forensic Services, 2016, documentation requirements are enforced through UKAS accreditation standards, and all fingerprint comparison work is subject to quality assurance processes, and according to the available evidence, no further published evidence has been identified since 2016.
SPA Forensic Services (Primary)
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FP60
Accepted
Disclosure of opinion basis - recording
Recommendation

Experts should record and properly disclose all of the basis of their opinion to enable a court to understand it and the defence to assess it.

Published evidence summary
According to Scottish Police Authority Forensic Services, 2016, SPA Forensic Services experts are now required to record and properly disclose all of the basis of their opinion, implemented as part of their UKAS-accredited methodology and quality management system. According to Scottish Police Authority Forensic Services, 2024, full disclosure requirements are enforced through accredited practice, with SPA Forensic Services maintaining UKAS accreditation for the 26th consecutive year as confirmed in a December 2024 assessment.
SPA Forensic Services (Primary)
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FP66
Accepted
Unable to exclude findings
Recommendation

Before a finding of 'unable to exclude' is led in evidence, careful consideration will require to be given to (a) the types of mark for which such a finding is meaningful and (b) the proper interpretation of the finding.

Published evidence summary
According to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, 2016, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) now gives careful consideration to 'unable to exclude' findings before they are led in evidence, and updated guidance on the interpretation of fingerprint evidence. This reformed practice reflects the Inquiry's finding that fingerprint evidence is opinion evidence, not fact. No further published evidence has been identified since 2016.
COPFS (Primary)
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FP-COMPLEX
Accepted
Complex marks examination
Recommendation
Processes should be developed to ensure that complex marks such as those in question are treated differently, by examination by three suitably qualified examiners who reach their conclusion independently, make notes at each stage, and record reasons for their conclusions. Read more
Published evidence summary
According to Scottish Police Authority Forensic Services, 2016, SPA Forensic Services developed processes for the examination of complex marks by three suitably qualified examiners who reach conclusions independently, make notes at each stage, and record reasons for their conclusions. According to Scottish Police Authority Forensic Services, 2016, these procedures form part of the standard operating procedures within SPA Forensic Services and are maintained through UKAS accreditation, and according to the available evidence, no further published evidence has been identified since 2016.
SPA Forensic Services (Primary)
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