The SAFE storage of images

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The SAFE storage of images

• Dr Christine Bassindale
• Clinical Director
• The Lancashire Sexual Assault Forensic
  Examination (SAFE) Centre

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Thank you

• The St Marys Centre team
• The Lancashire SAFE Centre team
• You

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The Lancashire SAFE Centre mission statement

• exists to serve all the people of Lancashire
• in providing accessible and appropriate care and
  support for complainants of sexual assaults
• in a safe environment that enables the
• collection of sound forensic evidence which
• will assist the criminal justice system in the
  accurate determination of allegations of sexual
  assault".

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Why is the safe storage of images important?
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What are the images?

• Generated by the use of the colposcope during the
  forensic medical examination of a sexual assault
  complainant
• Images of ano-genital area
• Photographs
• Compact videotapes

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What are the possible consequences of not storing
/ managing genital images safely?

• Images could be abused
• An already traumatised complainant of sexual
  abuse / assault subjected to further trauma
• Medical evidence germane to determining a sexual
  offence charge may be lost
• Adverse effects on the forensic examiner, the
  Centre, the Constabulary.

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In my opinion whats needed to ensure images are
stored / managed safely?

• All forensic practitioners working within a
  comprehensive colposcope protocol which has been
  devised with regard to and respect of the needs
  of the complainant and the criminal justice
  system

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The colposcope protocol must include

• Obtaining the full informed consent of the
  complainant (and the person with parental
  responsibility) this necessarily includes
• Nature and purpose of the examination
• Use of colposcope and generation of images
• Ownership, retention and storage of images
• Use of images for research and training
• Circumstances in which images may be viewed by a
  doctor instructed by the defence
• Judge may order disclosure

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Protocol should also include

• Where stored
• How transferred to storage
• Who has access, why and how

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The SAFE Centre managing and storage of
photographs

• 2 copies
• Each copy in to sealed envelope
• 1 copy kept by forensic practitioner as part of
  contemporaneous notes
• Other copy with copy of notes at the SAFE Centre

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The SAFE Centre managing and storage of
videotapes
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The SAFE Centre safe
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To open the SAFE Centre safe
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Viewing by a doctor instructed by the Defence

• At the Lancashire SAFE Centre
• With the examining forensic practitioner

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The future?

• Safe storage of videos when the safe is full?
• Digital recording of images?

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Take home messages

• Photo-documentation needs to be managed and
  stored safely
• The consequences of not doing so could be dire
  for all concerned
• Lancashire SAFE Centre protocol attempts to
  address these matters
• Telephone number 01772 523344

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Thank you for listening