Forensic evidence damaged by weather 125/2026

FOI Reference: 125/2026

Request

I am making a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

I would like to request the following data covering the last five calendar years (2021–2025 inclusive):

1. The number of incidents where evidence, exhibits, or forensic materials were damaged, destroyed, compromised, or otherwise affected as a result of flooding, storms, or extreme weather events.
2. The number of crime scenes that were disrupted, contaminated, or rendered inaccessible due to flooding, storms, or extreme weather events.
3. For each incident counted in points (1) and (2), please provide (where recorded):
   • The year of the incident
   • A brief description of the weather‑related impact (e.g., storage facility flood, outdoor scene washed away, storm damage to scene‑preservation measures)
   • Whether any investigations or prosecutions were affected
4. If available, please also provide:
   • Any internal guidance or policies relating to the protection of evidence or crime scenes from weather‑related risks.

Response Q1 – Q4

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does not hold the information requested.

Please note:

Normal rain, or freeze thaw temperature changes can affect fingerprint and DNA recovery, however we can’t measure as there is no means of knowing what potential evidence was there before compared to after the weather.

(This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 18/02/2026)