Written question asked by Jenny Willott (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 8 September 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 12 September 2011. It was answered by James Brokenshire (Conservative) on Tuesday, 1 November 2011 on behalf of the Home Office.

DNA: Databases

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases interim electronic data on the National DNA Database and in databases held by forensic science services has been destroyed following an exceptional case decision; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: Because of the particular facts in one case, the interim data relating to that individual was destroyed.Interim data is held on the forensic suppliers' systems but not on the National DNA Database (NDNAD).Further work is underway to break any link between interim data created during the process of generating a DNA profile and an individual, subject to any requirements of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act (1996). This includes changing forensic supplier identification codes and an independent audit.The National DNA Database (NDNAD) Unit are also exploring whether it may be possible to change the profiling process so that interim data held by suppliers would no longer be stored in batches, so that it could be destroyed for individual profiles more readily.

Secondary information