27 March 2003
A government amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill will let Police Officers take fingerprints and DNA samples from arrested persons detained at police stations.
Currently samples can only be taken once a suspect has been charged. This extension of police powers will enable officers to verify the identity of arrested suspects where their fingerprints have been taken before. Fingerprints can be taken electronically and identities checked against the national fingerprint database within minutes.
DNA samples taken from arrested persons will be added to the 1.8 million samples currently on the national DNA database. This will give authorities the chance to identify repeat offenders at an early stage.
Each DNA sample, once loaded onto the national DNA database, could potentially help solve serious crimes, such as rape or murder. Every month the database matches 3,000 DNA profiles taken from crime scenes with names on the database. The government is investing £182 million in expanding the database to build on this.
Home Office Minister Lord Falconer said:
"Science and technology has transformed the fight against crime and underpins intelligence-led policing. The use of forensic science, from fingerprints to DNA, is helping the police combat crime and is achieving great results."
The Criminal Justice Bill was published last November and is currently at report stage in the House of Commons.
delicious
digg
facebook
