Evidence of Identity in United Kingdom

Definition of Evidence of Identity

In accordance with the work A Dictionary of Law, this is a description of Evidence of Identity : That which tends to prove the identity of a person. A person’s identity may be proved by *direct evidence (even though it may involve an expression of *opinion) or by *circumstantial evidence. Secondary evidence (*secondary evidence) of an out-of-court identification by a witness (e.g. that he picked the accused out of an identification parade) may also be given to confirm the witness’s testimony. In criminal cases, if the evidence of identity is wholly or mainly based on visual identification the jury must be specially warned of the danger of accepting the evidence; any *corroboration must be pointed out to them by the judge. In criminal cases this issue must be dealt with under the detailed provisions of the appropriate Code of Practice under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. Failure to follow this procedure and its accompanying safeguards will render the evidence of identity inadmissible.

See also DNA fingerprinting.