The operation of the national DNA database is overseen by the custodian, who manages it both through his own staff and through a contract awarded to the Forensic Science Service (FSS), for operation and management of the NDNAD and its IT systems. The FSS is required to demonstrate compliance with specified security requirements, and the NDNAD system is subject to independent security accreditation.
Under business continuity planning arrangements for the NDNAD, the data held on it are backed up and could be recovered in the event of loss of data from the database.
Information on the number of convictions obtained by reference to DNA is not collected, as convictions are obtained by integrated criminal investigation not by forensic science alone. However, data have been collected since 1998 on detections in which a DNA match was available and/or played a part in solving the crime. It is estimated that over the period April 1998 to March 2008, there have been over 272,000 detections. A breakdown of this figure by year is given in table 1. A breakdown of detections in 2007-08 by crime type is given in table 2.
Detected crimes in which a DNA match was available Additional detections arising from DNA match1 Total detected crimes in which a DNA match was available or played a part 1998-99 6,151 n/a 6,151 1999-2000 8,612 n/a 8,612 2000-01 14,785 n/a 14,785 2001-02 15,894 6,509 22,403 2002-03 21,098 12,717 33,815 2003-04 20,489 15,899 36,388 2004-05 19,873 15,732 35,605 2005-06 20,349 19,960 40,309 2006-07 19,949 21,199 41,148 2007-08 17,614 15,420 33,034 Total 164,814 107,436 272,250 n/a = Not available. 1 Additional detections may result from the original crime with the DNA match due to the identification of further offences through forensic linkage or through admission by the offender.
Crime type Number Homicide 83 Rape 184 Robbery 617 Other violent crime 849 Other sex offences 64 Drugs offences 321 Domestic burglary 3,443 Other burglary 3,886 Theft from vehicle 2,201 Theft of vehicle 1,379 Criminal damage 3,180 All other recorded crime 1,407 Total 17,614
There are three categories of information sought from the national DNA database (NDNAD) by other countries.
1. Searches carried out against the NDNAD of DNA profiles from outstanding serious crimes or for the identification of an unknown deceased person believed to be a United Kingdom national. Reports are issued directly to the United Kingdom National Central Bureau for Interpol (UK NCB), based at the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), as to the outcome of each profile search. There were 727 responses to profile search requests in 2007-08.
2. Requests for the DNA profile held for a subject on the NDNAD, where fingerprints have been provided to the country that the individual currently resides in. Again this is information provided to SOCA. There were 89 subject DNA profiles provided in 2007-08.
3. Database management information. This provides the number of subject and crime scene DNA profile records held on the NDNAD and the number of match reports generated. Countries who do not have a DNA database use this information to demonstrate the success of the United Kingdom Database, to support their case for legislation in their own country for a DNA database.
Requestors are directed to the most recent published NDNAD annual report, thus no figures are kept for the numbers of such requests.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 14 August 2008, Official Report, columns 1566-67W.