FP3 Response Accepted AI-assessed

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
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
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.
How was this assessed?
Assessed by gemini-2.5-flash on 19 Mar 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
External sources searched: www.gov.uk, www.gov.scot, www.legislation.gov.uk, hansard.parliament.uk
This recommendation asks for cultural or behavioural change, which is difficult to verify objectively. The assessment is based on policy commitments, not measured outcomes.
Jurisdiction
Scotland
Response
Accepted
Accepted Scottish Government
15 Dec 2011

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill responded on 15 December 2011, the day after the Fingerprint Inquiry report was published. The Scottish Government accepted the inquiry's recommendations. MacAskill stated: "I am confident that the recommendations from this Inquiry will further enhance these services." The Scottish Police Services Authority began drawing up an action plan to implement improvements in time for integration into the new Police Scotland in 2013.

Published Evidence

Published assessments of implementation progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Check the source type badge to see whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.

Confirmed Completed
31 Dec 2016
Scottish Police Authority Forensic Services Other

Examiners no longer report conclusions on identification or exclusion with claims to 100% certainty. Practice reformed as part of UKAS accreditation process for fingerprint comparisons awarded in 2016.

View detailed findings

SPA Forensic Services fingerprint reporting now follows internationally recognised standards. Independent validation by UKAS ensures reporting practices meet accredited standards. Methodology requires disclosure of all variables considered.

SPA Forensic Services Quality assurance page, ong… View Source
Source
Inquiry Fingerprint Inquiry
Report The Fingerprint Inquiry Report 14 Dec 2011
View Source
Responsible Bodies
SPA Forensic Services Primary
Themes & Tags
Clinical negligence harms learning Evidence Certainty Reporting
Recommendation age 14.3 yrs
Last formal update 5213 days ago