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DNA: Databases

Answer

The purpose of the national DNA database (NDNAD) is to match DNA profiles taken from individuals with those taken from crime scenes. It holds only the information necessary for this function, and does not contain criminal records or information on whether those on it are in prison.However, there are good reasons for believing that a significant majority of the prison population has a profile on the NDNAD. Police forces have had the power to retain DNA taken from those convicted of recordable offences since the establishment of the DNA database in 1995. For the first few years this power was exercised in relation to more serious offenders, but from 2000 onwards additional funding was made available under the DNA expansion programme to make it standard practice to take samples from all offenders. In April 2004, the law was changed to allow DNA samples to be taken from all those arrested for recordable offences. Following this, taking a DNA sample in the custody suite has become routine procedure. In addition, two prisoner sampling projects have been undertaken, most recently in 2003, to take DNA from any prisoner who had not already been sampled, for example because they had been imprisoned before DNA sampling was widely practiced.Legal powers have existed since 1996 to take DNA samples from those in prison. The Crime and Security Bill currently before Parliament allows samples to be taken from those convicted of sexual and violent offences before 1995 even if they are no longer in prison.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

505 c908W; 313454

Session

2009-10

Subjects

Databases DNA

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk