§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many individuals have their DNA recorded on the DNA national database; [113922]
(2) what reports he has received concerning inaccurate matches involving the national DNA database and DNA samples; and if he will make a statement; [113921]
(3) what recent reports he has received concerning DNA evidence matched using the DNA national database being used to correct miscarriages of justice on appeal; and if he will make a statement concerning the number of such cases, the nature of the use of the DNA national database for this purpose and his future plans for its use. [113920]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe National DNA Database holds the DNA profiles, obtained from samples of those suspected, cautioned or convicted of a recordable offence, for intelligence purposes. The Database also holds profiles obtained from crime stains left at the scenes of crime. It is managed and operated on behalf of the police by the Forensic Science Service. It currently holds over 700,000 profiles of individuals.
The Home Secretary has received no reports concerning inaccurate matches. The DNA Database reports a possible suspect to the Police for further investigation. If as a result, the DNA information is 'likely to be used as evidence, a further sample is taken from the suspect for analysis and a report on a match by a forensic science reporting officer.
The Home Secretary has received no reports concerning the DNA database and alleged miscarriages of justice. The DNA database would not normally be used for this purpose. If the Criminal Cases Review Commission 859W (CCRC) asked the Forensic Science Service to review DNA evidence in a specific case, the results would be recorded on the individual CCRC case file.
There are no plans to alter the existing role of the National DNA database. Last year, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced an additional investment of £34 million over the next two years to launch a programme to expand the National DNA Database so that it holds profiles of all active criminals, to be matched against samples taken from crime scenes. This will increase the Database's effectiveness as an intelligence tool.