Written question asked by Lord Grayling (Conservative) on Thursday, 18 June 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 22 June 2009. It was answered by Alan Johnson (Labour) on Tuesday, 30 June 2009 on behalf of the Home Office.

DNA: Databases

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions a person has been arrested but not charged with an offence following their being suspected of a crime as the result of the use of the national DNA database.

Answer: The information requested is not collected. In 2007-08, there were 37,376 crimes with a DNA match. If the National DNA Database (NDNAD) matches a DNA profile found at a crime scene with that from a known individual, a match report is sent to the police for further investigation. However, the NDNAD does not hold information on the outcome of the police investigation following the match—for example, whether the person concerned is arrested or charged—as its purpose is only to match DNA profiles.These figures do not constitute part of National Statistics as they are based on internal management information. The information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols, should be treated as provisional and is subject to change.

Secondary information