This section applies to material falling within subsection (2) relating to a person who—
has no previous convictions or only one exempt conviction,
is arrested for or charged with a recordable offence, and
is aged 18 or over at the time of the alleged offence.
Material falls within this subsection if it is—
fingerprints or impressions of footwear taken from the person in connection with the investigation of the offence, or
a DNA profile derived from a DNA sample so taken.
The material must be destroyed—
in the case of fingerprints or impressions of footwear, before the end of the period of 6 years beginning with the date on which the fingerprints or impressions were taken,
in the case of a DNA profile, before the end of the period of 6 years beginning with the date on which the DNA sample from which the profile was derived was taken (or, if the profile was derived from more than one DNA sample, the date on which the first of those samples was taken).
But if, before the material is required to be destroyed by virtue of this section, the person is arrested for or charged with a recordable offence the material may be further retained until the end of the period of 6 years beginning with the date of the arrest or charge.
This section ceases to have effect in relation to the material if the person is convicted of a recordable offence before the material is required to be destroyed by virtue of this section.