A police official may without warrant take the fingerprints of a person if which condition exists?

• A. There are reasonable grounds to suspect that the person has committed an offence punishable with imprisonment for a period of five years or longer
• B. He knows that person has committed a crime previously
• C. He believes the suspect may commit a crime in the future
• D. The suspect wears gloves

Answer: (A)

Fingerprint collection without a warrant is allowed when there are reasonable grounds to suspect involvement in a serious offense, specifically an offense punishable by imprisonment for five years or longer. This threshold ensures police can identify and preserve evidence quickly in more serious cases, without needing a warrant in every situation. Reasonable grounds means objective facts or information that would lead a reasonable person to suspect the person’s involvement—not certainty, just a plausible basis supported by the circumstances.

The other scenarios don’t fit because simply knowing someone has committed a crime in the past doesn’t authorize current fingerprinting, and worrying they might commit a crime in the future isn’t a valid basis for taking fingerprints. Wearing gloves is a practical obstacle, not a legal condition that permits or requires fingerprinting.