DNA: Databases
(asked on 23rd June 2015) - View Source
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to ensure that all the DNA profiles of current prisoners are added to the DNA database.
This question was answered on 26th June 2015
It has been standard practice for the police to take DNA profiles from all persons arrested for a recordable offence for many years. If the person is then convicted, their DNA profile is retained indefinitely. If the police follow standard practice consistently, then prisoners’ DNA profiles are on the database because they were taken on arrest. It would not therefore be cost effective to check all prisoners to confirm their DNA profiles are on the database.