Wallace defends fingerprint remark

Mr Wallace's comments have sparked a political row

Scotland's Justice Minister Jim Wallace is standing by a remark he made to MSPs that fingerprinting was "not an exact science".

Opposition parties have criticised his comments and urged a retraction amid claims that Mr Wallace has caused confusion and undermined confidence in the criminal justice system.

But the minister told BBC Scotland that he had "total confidence" in the fingerprint evidence being presented to Scottish courts.

He also accused opposition parties of making "political mischief" and chasing "cheap headlines".

Jim Wallace: "Political mischief"

The row centres around remarks Mr Wallace made while appearing before MSPs on the Scottish Parliament's justice committees on Tuesday.

He was asked whether he had any concerns about fingerprinting in Scotland.

Mr Wallace replied: "One of the things that perhaps should be said about fingerprint evidence is that it's not an exact science.

"There is an art form there, it's a skill which does involve judgment and can't be boiled down to an exact science.

"But the position is that having tested and independently tested a whole string of cases, the Crown was satisfied that the evidence that was being led in terms of fingerprints was credible evidence."

'Scientifically illiterate'

His comments have been seized upon by political opponents who believe that there are issues which need to be addressed in the light of the Shirley McKie case.

The former Strathclyde Police detective was wrongly accused of perjury when her fingerprints were said to have been found at a murder scene.

She was acquitted after the evidence against her was discredited.

Mike Russell: "Flat earth theory"

This raised questions over the competency of the Scottish Criminal Records Office (SCRO) which analyses fingerprint evidence.

Scottish National Party MSP Mike Russell, who has campaigned on behalf of Ms McKie, said Mr Wallace's comments made a mockery of the criminal justice system.

He said: "To describe fingerprinting as more of an art than a science is scientifically illiterate. It is the forensic equivalent of the flat earth theory.

"The overwhelming consensus of opinion says that a fingerprint is either a match or it isn't.

'Extraordinary statement'

"Jim Wallace's approach is exactly the kind of thinking that has led to the scandal of the Shirley McKie case and made a mockery of the criminal justice system."

Scottish Conservative MSP Bill Aitken said the remarks would have "far-reaching implications" in that hundreds of people had been convicted over the years "on the basis of fingerprinting being an exact science".

He said: "Jim Wallace really needs to clarify his views on this matter otherwise I can imagine thousands of people tramping down the doors of the Appeal Court.

Bill Aitken: "Far-reaching implications"

"It seems an extraordinary statement for a justice minister to have made."

Mr Wallace told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that he stood by Tuesday's statement to MSPs.

He said: "I think I made it very clear that firstly I have total confidence in the fingerprint evidence that is being presented to our courts."

The minister defended his use of the word "art" when referring to fingerprinting and said that he believed there was a great degree of skill involved in the technique.

He also rounded on political opponents and said his remarks had not attracted criticism from MSPs on the justice committees.

"I think those who are undermining the criminal justice system are those who are trying to make some political mischief out of this or seek a cheap headline," he said.

"They weren't present at the committee. If they committee thought that I was undermining the criminal justice system they had two hours in which to grill me and pursue that.

"They didn't do it. I'm sure they were satisfied with the whole explanation I'd given."