The following section includes official and external guidance for police when dealing with HIV-related issues.
This training manual draws on current scientific evidence and best practices related to police education and HIV and HCV health and safety training. It is intended for use by police departments to assist them in meeting their professional obligations to provide safer service to people living with and affected by HIV and/or HCV.
Sets out how prosecutors should deal with cases where there is an allegation that the suspect/defendant has passed an infection to the complainant during the course of consensual sexual activity. States the criminality of this offending lies in the mens rea, so relevant offences will be difficult to prove to the requisite high standard, to satisfy the evidential stage of the Code test and in the court itself. Also warns of other sensitivities: the relationship between the criminal law and consensual sexual behaviour is delicate.
Outlines the law and includes concrete recommendations for police that could be addressed in a general Best Practice Manual. Recommends the development of specific guidelines in relation to non-disclosure of HIV (and possibly other sexually transmitted infection) in consultation community stakeholders.
