The Police Amendment Bill was passed in the Senate yesterday.

The bill gives suspects in Police custody and Police officers greater guidelines when collecting evidence.

Senator David Burch said the bill set out new procedures governing the treatment of suspects in Police custody, their rights, and the powers of the Police to take fingerprints and samples from them.

Also included is aspects of Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE), which are suitable to Bermuda's needs.

A sergeant or above must be designated for each Police station and he will perform the duties conferred on a custody officer to keep a record of the treatment of detainees in the station.

Another change was the destruction of evidence, Sen. Burch said, which means that after somebody has been cleared of a crime, they have the right to witness its destruction.

Also suspects who needed to have an intimate search would now only be searched by a member of the same sex, and a suspect will have the right to inform someone that they have been arrested.

However, in drug cases, the right is discretionary if officers think it would hinder the recovery of illegal drugs.

Sen. Burch also said when the Police have a child 14 or under in custody the Police must now inform a responsible adult.

The bill also changes the identity parades, which will now protect the victim.

Sen. Neville Darrell (pictured) said he was in favour of the bill, but he had concerns over the destruction of evidence and the destruction of fingerprints.

He said: "Sometimes evidence is not destroyed if it is part of an ongoing investigation."

Sen. Burch said people cleared of a crime can not only witness the evidence being destroyed, but also receive certification that it has been damaged.