§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to amend the law to allow the RUC to make greater use of DNA sampling. [20333]
§ Sir Patrick MayhewI intend to introduce legislation which will allow the RUC to take full advantage of developments in the technology of DNA analysis and give the police in Northern Ireland the opportunity to take samples from those suspected of a range of offences in wider circumstances than at present. It is vital that the RUC should be able to make use of technological innovation in the detection and investigation of crime at the earliest opportunity.
These measures will facilitate the use of improved technology for the analysis of DNA samples and fine-tune the law in other areas. They will assist the RUC to maintain its well-earned reputation for professionalism and their standards of excellence in investigating and detecting crime.
In addition, I plan to clarify the law in Northern Ireland on the status of prisoners when they are required for interview by the police and in respect of prisoners who are unlawfully at large in Northern Ireland so that they may be arrested and returned to custody as swiftly as possible no matter what part of the UK from which they are unlawfully at large.