R. v. BEARE; R. v. HIGGINS

[Indexed as: Beare v. R.]

Supreme Court of Canada, Dickson C.J.C., Beetz, Estey, McIntyre, Lamer, Wilson, Le Dain, La Forest and L'Heureux-Dubé JJ.

Judgment — December 17, 1987.

RG. Richards and KJ. Tyler, for appellant. W Corbett, Q. C., for the Attorney General of Canada. S.C. Hill, for the Attorney General of Ontario. G.S. Gameau, for the Attorney General of New Brunswick. S. Whitley and M. Smith, for the Attorney General of Manitoba. J. Watson, for the Attorney General of Alberta. BA. Crane, Q.C. and HS. Brown, for the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. D.G. MacKay, for the respondent Beare. No one for the respondent Higgins.

(No. 20384)

December 17, 1987. The judgment of the court was delivered by DICKSON C.J.C. (orally): — Since a decision as to the constitutional validity of the impugned provisions of the Identification of Criminals Act and the Criminal Code is a matter of urgency in the administration of justice, the court disposes of these appeals forthwith, its reasons to follow at a later date.

The court finds the provisions constitutional and allows the appeals. The issue of retention of fingerprints after acquittal does not arise on the facts of these appeals. The question of costs is reserved.

Appeal allowed; written reasons to follow.