Written question asked by Grant Shapps (Conservative) on Monday, 31 March 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 2 April 2008. It was answered by Meg Hillier (Labour) on Monday, 1 September 2008 on behalf of the Home Office.

Genetics: Databases

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many DNA samples on the DNA database are from children currently under the age of 18 years who have not been charged or cautioned with an offence.

Answer: Data on young persons aged under 18 was obtained from the National DNA Database (NDNAD) and the Police National Computer (PNC) on 9-10 April 2008. The NDNAD data indicates that, on 10 April 2008, there were 349,934 subject sample profiles relating to persons aged 10 to 17 on it. There are more profiles than individuals due to DNA samples being taken from some individuals on more than one occasion, that is, there is some duplicate sampling. It is estimated that the current rate of profile replication is about 13.3 per cent. Taking the replication rate into account, it is estimated that the 349,934 profiles are equivalent to 303,393 persons aged 10 to 17.Data obtained from the PNC on 9-10 April indicates that, of those estimated 303,393 persons, 264,297 (87.1 per cent.) had a conviction, caution, reprimand or had received a final warning and 39,095 (12.8 per cent.) had not been convicted, cautioned, received a final warning/reprimand and had no charge pending against them.

Secondary information