ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the numerous difficulties facing any party seeking to adduce an offender profile in a criminal trial in England. An offender profile is likely to conflict with some of the most fundamental rules of the law of evidence such as the rules of legal relevance, opinion, hearsay, and the rules guarding against prejudicial evidence. This chapter explains these rules and how they would affect the admissibility of the profile, whether adduced by the prosecution or the defence. It identifies the dangers in criminal psychologists being treated as expert witnesses and the legal hurdle profiles would face if they sought to rely on earlier research to support a particular profile. By providing an explanation of the relevant rules of the law of evidence and how they impinge on the admissibility of the profile, the aim is for psychologists to be better equipped to address requests from the investigating authorities for profiles.
