Protecting the integrity of evidence collected is vital in law enforcement. If the integrity of the evidence is in doubt, its use in legal proceedings could be jeopardized, possibly allowing a guilty person to escape prosecution.
Countries with a history of the rule of law have a framework of rules and procedures stipulating how evidence is to be collected, used and preserved. Evidence is admissible in court only if the rules have been followed. The accused have procedural rights, giving them protection from evidence tampering to manipulate the outcome of an investigation or trial. It is important that anyone who handles evidence during an investigation know and follow the rules concerning the admissibility of evidence.