HC Deb 01 July 2002 vol 388 cc186-7W
Norman Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals have their DNA samples held by the police. [64244]

Mr. Denham

[holding answer 25 June 2002]DNA samples and the profiles derived from them are held on behalf of the police by the national DNA database custodian at the Forensic Science Service. As of 19 June 2002, the national DNA database holds 1,662,827 samples taken from individuals in England and Wales.

Norman Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether an individual who has been required to provide a DNA sample by the police has the right to have that sample destroyed in the event of an acquittal for the charge which prompted the sample being taken. [642421

Mr. Denham

[holding answer 25 June 2002]An individual does not have the right for their DNA sample to be destroyed in the event of an acquittal. Under section 82 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, amending section 64 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, a chief constable may decide to retain DNA samples in all cases, including following acquittal or a decision to drop a prosecution, except where the sample was taken as part of a mass screening process and the individual does not consent to the retention of the sample. Samples can only be used for purposes related to the prevention or detection of crime, the investigation of an offence or the conduct of a prosecution.

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. [642431

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.