To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of (a) white, (b) black and (c) Asian (i) men and (b) women aged (A) 10 to 15, (B) 16 to 17 and (C) 18 or more years old were on the national DNA database in each year since 2001. (294185)

The national DNA database (NDNAD) is constantly changing as profiles are added and deleted. It is not possible to produce information retrospectively on the state of the database in past years, unless this was collected by statistics produced at the time. The information sought on the number of those on the NDNAD by the ethnicity, gender and age groups specified is available for 31 March 2009 and 31 March 2008 and is provided in table 1. Some information is also available for 31 March 2007, and is provided in table 2. The information sought is not available for years before 2007.

The tables show the number of profiles held, which is not the same as the number of individuals. This is because some profiles are replicates i.e. more than one profile is held for one individual. This may occur if, for example, an individual gives different names, or different versions of their name, on separate arrests. As at 31 March 2009, the replication rate on the NDNAD as a whole was 13.5 per cent. The tables show data on profiles loaded by all police forces.

It is not possible to calculate accurately the proportion of members of ethnic groups in the population as a whole who are on the NDNAD because the data held on the NDNAD are not directly comparable with census population data. The NDNAD does not hold self-reported ethnicity data on arrested persons who have a DNA sample taken, but on their ‘ethnic appearance’. The ethnic appearance data is based on the judgment of the police officer and is recorded for police intelligence purposes to assist in subsequent identification. It uses six broad ethnic categories (plus ‘unknown’) whereas census data is based on 16 ethnic groups self-reported by individuals.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people now aged over 10 years old on the national DNA database had their profile added to the database when they were under the age of 10; and how many were in each age group under 10 years old at the time their profile was added. (294202)

Government policy is that English and Welsh police forces should not hold profiles of children under 10 on the national DNA database (NDNAD). Following the announcement of this policy on 16 December 2008, profiles of all those who were under 10 at the time a DNA sample was taken from them were removed, regardless of whether their current age was under or over 10. The national DNA database is regularly monitored to confirm that this policy remains in effect.