04/01/2006

DNA database continues to help solve crimes

The number of crimes solved through the use of DNA technology has quadrupled over the last five years, the Home Office has announced.

According to the latest figures, the number of profiles added to the national DNA database has trebled in the last five years, taking the total number to over 3 million.

The Home Office also said that there had been a 74% rise in the number of crimes where potential DNA material is collected and a 75% increase in the number of DNA suspect-to-scene matches.

This enhanced the ability of the police to detect serious crime, the Home Office said, by providing them with around 3,000 matches per month.

Home Office Minister Andy Burnham said: “We are committed to building on this success and our main objective now is to ensure that the NDNAD is kept up to date and that newcomers to crime and those that have so far evaded police attention have their profiles added to the National DNA database as soon as possible.

“New powers introduced in April 2004 enable the police to take and retain a DNA sample and fingerprints from persons arrested for a recordable offence will also assist in the continuing build up of the DNA database and provide new scope to detect offenders at an early stage.”

(KMcA)

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