Authority welcomes police future plans for DNA

19/00
14 September 2000

In a report to the Metropolitan Police Authority’s meeting today, the Metropolitan Police outlined plans to increase the use of DNA at the scenes of crime as part of improved and quicker detection of criminals. The Met has achieved a 183 per cent increase in the number of identifications for the first quarter of this financial year compared to the same period last year.

Commenting on the report the Chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority, Toby Harris said:

“DNA has become one of the greatest success stories in aiding the detection of crime since the National DNA Database was launched in 1995. From using only blood samples, the Forensic Science Laboratory can today use almost anything from cigarette ends to the licking of envelopes to identify individuals potentially involved in crime. A profile has even been obtained from a kiss on the neck.

“Over 12,000 samples were taken in 1996/97, and the projected figure by the Met for 2000/01 is 83,000. This is a good news story for the victims of crime and bad news for the criminal. Since November 1999, the Met has been taking DNA from all suspects charged or reported for a recordable offence. It is expected that the long term effect of early identification of suspects by DNA evidence will be to deter, disrupt or divert offenders from pursuing a life of crime in London, thereby reducing crime.

“The Authority congratulate the Met on the great strides it has made in using DNA in its fight against crime and we welcome the plan to extend DNA testing to all priority crime scenes and to achieving speedier turn around times.”

Notes to editors

The Metropolitan Police Authority took over responsibility for the Metropolitan Police Service from the Home Secretary on 3 July. The Metropolitan Police Authority held its first meeting on 26 June, 2000 at which Lord Toby Harris was elected Chair and Peter Herbert and Richard Barnes were elected Deputy Chairs.

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