Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 19 June 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 1 July 2002. It was answered by John Denham (Labour) on Monday, 1 July 2002 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether there is central access to DNA samples held by different police forces. - (Holding answer 25 June 2002).

Answer: Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is central access to DNA samples held by different police forces. [64243] Mr. Denham: [holding answer 25 June 2002]: DNA samples are retained in England and Wales by the laboratories authorised to analyse them. They are the Forensic Science Service, the Laboratory of the Government Chemist and Cellmark. The laboratories submit the DNA profiles from these samples to the Forensic Science Service which acts as custodian of the national DNA database. As the custodian, the Forensic Science Service inputs, updates and manages the information on the national DNA database and searches it for intelligence data at the request of the police.

Secondary information