October 3, 2025
Rowlands v CC of Merseyside Police [2006] EWCA Civ 1773
A woman was arrested and photographed, but the charges were dropped. The police refused to destroy her photo. The court held that police have a common law power to retain photographs of unconvicted individuals for crime prevention purposes, which was proportionate. Facts The appellant, Mrs Rowlands, was arrested by Merseyside Police on suspicion of harassing her neighbour. In accordance with standard procedure, her photograph was taken at the police station. Subsequently, the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to proceed with the charges against her. Mrs Rowlands then requested that the police destroy the photograph. The Chief Constable of Merseyside Police
