The National DNA Database Annual Report 2004-2005

0206015 © Crown Copyright 2006. All Rights Reserved. The National DNA Database Board

Chairman Mr Stuart Hyde Mr David Coleman Assistant Chief Constable (Crime) Chief Constable, Derbyshire Constabulary (until December 2004) West Midlands Police

Mr Tony Lake Dr David Werrett Chief Constable, Constabulary Chief Executive The Service Members Mr Tim Wilson Dr Steve Bain Head of Home Office Science Policy Unit Human Genetics Commission

Dr Bob Bramley Secretariat Custodian The National DNA Database Mr David Moore Detective Chief Inspector Mr Ian Gordon Derbyshire Constabulary (until December 2004) Deputy Chief Constable, Tayside Constabulary Lead on DNA for ACPO (Scotland) Ms Katrina Morton Detective Inspector Lincolnshire Constabulary Strategic Objectives

1. To establish independent oversight of The National 4. To improve the use and effectiveness of The DNA Database National DNA Database • Provide for independent oversight with lay input • Increase police awareness of the benefits and cost-effectiveness of • Separate the Custodianship of The National DNA Database from the FSS DNA in the prevention and detection of crime • Establish a coherent management group for The National DNA • Provide comprehensive management information on police, supplier Database laboratory and Database performance • Provide an even-handed service to all police forces and supplier labo- • Pursue improvements to improve the speed of delivery and scope of ratories Database services • Encourage opportunities to derive more intelligence information from The National DNA Database 2. To obtain DNA profiles from the active criminal pop- • Capitalise on the potential synergy between the DNA and other intelli- gence databases ulation • Publicise the value of The National DNA Database • Secure support from the Home Office for the police and The National DNA Database working in partnership with Government 5. To develop use of The National DNA Database in • Maximise sampling opportunities partnership with other agencies in the Criminal • Ensure retention of DNA profiles in line with current legislation and Justice System policies • Build long term partnerships with the key players (ACPO, police forces, Home Office, PITO) • Improve the services we provide through joining up our systems with 3. To maintain public confidence in the security and those of our CJS partners integrity of The National DNA Database and its use • Establish facilities for the identification of missing persons and vic- tims of mass disasters • Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation • Establish arrangements for obtaining independent advice on ethical matters • Protect the DNA samples and information on The National DNA 6. To enhance the position of The National DNA Database from unauthorised access and use Database as the world-leading DNA Database • Improve the systems for minimising and rectifying erroneous infor- • Maintain up to date knowledge of DNA and databasing technology mation on The National DNA Database • Participate fully in international developments in the use of DNA data- • Formulate and communicate our strategy and plans bases • Subject ourselves to scrutiny and audit • Influence development of cross-national standards and protocols • Provide for public access to appropriate information • Provide a full contribution to an international service Contents

Strategic objectives ...... Inside front cover Chairman’s foreword ...... 2 The National DNA Database Board ...... Inside front cover/4 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 1: To establish independent oversight of The National DNA Database ...... 5 Developments in the arrangements for oversight and operation of The National DNA Database...... 5 The National DNA Database Board Annual Report and Website...... 6 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 2: To obtain DNA profiles from the active criminal population ...... 6 The National DNA Database: subject sample profiles...... 6 Legislative developments underpinning growth of The National DNA Database...... 9 Policy developments underpinning growth of The National DNA Database...... 10 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 3: To maintain public confidence in the security and integrity of The National DNA Database and its use.....11 New sampling kits and processes...... 11 Supplier laboratories...... 11 Quality assurance The National DNA Database...... 12 Investigation of potential errors...... 14 Audit trails...... 14 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 4: To improve the use and effectiveness of The National DNA Database...... 15 The end to end process ...... 15 Sample collection and submission by the police...... 16 Submission of information by the police to suppliers and The National DNA Database ...... 17 Developments in laboratory services...... 17 The National DNA Database: sample profile statistics...... 19 National DNA Database match statistics...... 20 Database services...... 24 Elimination of suspects...... 26 Detection of crimes...... 26 Best practice - police...... 28 Best practice - suppliers ...... 29 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 5: To develop use of The National DNA Database in partnership with other agencies in the Criminal Justice System...... 30 Charging on the basis of The National DNA Database match report...... 30 Identification of deceased persons ...... 30 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 6: To enhance the position of The National DNA Database as the world-leading DNA Database ...... 30 International sharing of DNA data...... 30 Interpol DNA Database...... 30 Custodian financial statement ...... 31 Response to recommendations from independent reviews of the operation of The National DNA Database...... 32 Independent reviews...... 32 National DNA Database Board responses ...... 33 Glossary...... 37 DNA Operations Group and Suppliers Group representatives...... 39

The National DNA Database Annual Report 2004/5 Page 1 Chairman’s foreword

Rarely a week goes by without some of the to establish the identity of suspects beyond most serious crimes being solved through use doubt whilst they are within the custody of the Database. Operation Advance, which environment and improve the potential for concentrates on reviewing unsolved serious identifying offenders responsible for other crime, has regularly achieved outstanding outstanding crimes as quickly as possible, successes, some of the cases going back before they are released from a police station. many years. We should never underestimate This should greatly enhance the detection of the importance to victims, and their crime and also prevent further offences being families of being able to detect these crimes, committed. The potential benefit for the even after all this time. country as a whole in terms of reducing crime and reducing the number of potential victims The contribution of DNA science to reducing will be a step change in the way we manage the levels of and car crime has also the custody environment. been significant and has undoubtedly been an important factor in the reduction of these The National DNA Database Board is not areas of volume crime in successive years. complacent about the success achieved so far. We value the reputation the United Kingdom The advances in science and technology has in developing DNA technology and the continue to move at an incredible pace and it Database itself and fully recognise how is important to acknowledge the enormous essential it is that we protect that reputation. contribution made in this essential area of This involves establishing the highest police work by the forensic science providers professional standards of performance within in both the public sector and the commercial the forensic supplier environment and world. Without their help, enthusiasm and co- ensuring compliance with these standards. In operation we would not have made the this context the work of the Custodian and the progress achieved so far. In particular, the supporting team remains fundamental to improvements they have made in speed of success. should like to pay a special tribute “It is a privilege and a analysis and turn around of sample to Dr Bob Bramley, the Custodian, and his submissions has made a significant team of dedicated staff, who do so much to pleasure to introduce this, contribution in detecting and apprehending keep the Database itself running so efficiently suspects for crime at an earlier stage, thus and effectively. the third annual report of preventing further offending and reducing the number of victims of crime. The National DNA Database Board is The National DNA accountable for how the Database is used and The police service, however, is a demanding for improving the way it works. In overseeing Database Board. In April customer, and the Association of Chief Police the operation of the Database, the Board has Officers’ Forensic Science Committee has a continued to benefit over the last year from clear strategic aim to see forensic science the advice and views of the representative 2005 we celebrated the services delivered in a way which speeds up nominated by the Human Genetics still further the analysis times for DNA and Commission (HGC), Dr Steve Bain. 10th anniversary of the provides even better value for money. The National DNA Database Board recognises the Following the recommendations of the foundation of the real prospect of DNA analysis equipment McFarland Review (July 2003), work has becoming smaller, more automated and easier started on progressing the separation of the Database itself, the first to locate and use outside the forensic science Custodian activity from the Forensic Science laboratory. In this respect, it was very exciting Service, as it becomes a Government-owned to see the Forensic Science Service (FSS) company, and moving towards a new Strategy of its kind in the world, develop a prototype of a mobile laboratory Board to oversee the operation of the capable of carrying out DNA analysis at the Database. The Strategy Board will have which is fast approaching scenes of serious crime. This “Lab in a Van” tripartite governance arrangements involving approach will help provide investigators with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), having three million valuable forensic immediately, and the Home Office, and the Association of Police hence improve further the chances of the Authorities (APA). There will also be non- stored individual profiles.” offender being identified quickly and executive members, and it is likely that the prevented from offending again. HGC nominations will be increased to two, allowing them to have greater input to policy The reduction in the size of DNA analysis decisions being made by the tripartite board. It equipment will almost certainly also provide is essential that the public continue to have an opportunity to enhance the role of custody confidence in The National DNA Database. centres throughout the UK. In combination with Livescan and future developments in biometric technology it will enhance our ability

Page 2 The National DNA Database Annual Report 2004/5 The United Kingdom is a world leader in the also the potential for helping to identify application of DNA evidence in criminal missing persons. investigations and we have the largest DNA database in the world. We also have the most Finally I should also like to add my thanks to enabling legislation, with successive changes David Coleman, Chief Constable of Derbyshire in the law since the inception of the Database, Constabulary and former chairman of The including the Criminal Justice and Police Act National DNA Database Board. There is little 2001 and the Criminal Justice Act of 2003, all doubt that under his stewardship and with the contributing to the increase of profiles on the leadership that he provided, the effectiveness Database. of the Database has improved enormously.

We look forward to continuing to develop The Tony Lake National DNA Database and there must be Chief Constable opportunities in the future to consider working Lincolnshire Constabulary in a more collaborative way with other Chairman, National DNA Database Board law enforcement agencies and within an international forum that will place Tony Lake joined the Metropolitan an even greater emphasis on Police in 1972 and spent much of his detecting serious and organised early service working in Central London. international crime. Other opportunities Most of his career has been engaged in Th e first D for maximising operational roles. He won a Bramshill atabas was for e match the use of the Scholarship in 1985 and went to Corpus burglary from a and the Database will Christi College, , where he furnitur ft involve helping Che e store read History obtaining BA (Hons). In sterfield in to establish the 1992 he transferred to West Yorkshire w , Derby hich too shire, identities of Police where he worked as Divisional k place 1995. A in April people who are the Commander in South Bradford, swab w victims of mass from as gain introducing community policing to an a stain ed disasters. There is t on the area of considerable diversity. In he prem floor o ises an f April 2000 he took up the post of obtain d a prof ed whic ile Deputy Chief Constable, British 20- h match year-old ed a Transport Police. He continued to man. H subsequ e was contribute to the work of ACPO and ently s a thre entence was Chairman of the ACPO Property e-month d to yo term in Tracking Group and represented ACPO ung offe a nders’ in (UK) in work which is developing a stitute. European Standard in vehicle tracking. On 24 September 2003 he was appointed Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police and at the beginning of December 2004 he assumed responsibility for the ACPO Forensic Portfolio and became Chair of the Forensic Science Committee and The National DNA Database Board.

The National DNA Database Annual Report 2004/5 Page 3 The National DNA Database Board

Kerry Curtis Tim Wilson Stuart Hyde

Kerry Curtis completed a full career with Tim Wilson has worked in a wide range of Stuart Hyde studied Law at Birmingham the Ministry of Defence before undertaking a Home Office Units, chiefly concerned with University and joined Avon & Somerset period of overseas service providing penal administration, and managed a £200 Constabulary in 1983. In 1997 he was administration and logistic expertise to million per annum capital investment promoted to Detective Superintendent and assist emerging governments with elections programme. Most recently he specialised in moved to West Yorkshire Police where he and post election administration. For several PFI/PPP work in the Home Office, as Head of managed crime departments. He then took years he worked closely with the the Private Finance Policy Team at HM on a SIO role in Bradford and later became Government Food Chemists department Treasury and on secondment to WS Atkins Divisional Commander before transferring to dealing with International Food Standards Investments, a private sector company. He manage Training. He transferred to West and Procurement. He has been an has advised the National Audit Office and the Midlands Police as Assistant Chief Constable Independent Member of the Avon and Northern Ireland Executive, as well as the (Crime) in 2003. He now chairs the National Somerset Police Authority for seven years, South African and Dutch Governments, about DNA Operations Group as well as being Vice and holds a committee chair’s appointment PFI/PPP issues. He has also worked with the President of the Hi-Tech Crime Consortium, with the National Association of Police Ministry of Economic Development and Trade Director of the Society for the Policing of Authorities. He welcomes the opportunity of the Russian Federation and the Higher Cyberspace and Deputy Director of the and the challenge of representing the APA School of Economics of Moscow State charity ‘Bullying Online’ and the wider public through the tripartite University in a programme funded by the (www.bullying.co.uk), which is dedicated to governance of The National DNA Database European Commission and managed by a UN the prevention of bullying in schools. Strategy Board. agency. He was appointed Head of the Science Policy Unit (now Forensic Science and Pathology Unit) in July 2003. He chairs n the Policy Advisory Board for Forensic formatio ts for in Pathology and is a member of the ACPO Reques al DNA e Nation m Forensic Science Sub-Committee, the Police out Th Freedo Science and Technology Strategy Group and ab der the base un A) 2005 the Council for the Registration of Forensic Data Act (FOI rmation The Practitioners. of Info ssed to: e addre DNA hould b ational s of The N stodian se, Cu iory Hou base, Pr Data orth, Street N Gooch 6QQ. ham B5 Birming

The Custodian, Dr Bob Bramley, and the HGC representative, Dr Steve Bain, in discussion

Page 4 The National DNA Database Annual Report 2004/5 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 1: To establish independent oversight of The National DNA Database

Developments in the Ethics committee Provision of National DNA Database arrangements for oversight and The Strategy Board agrees with the calls from operational services the HGC and the Select Committee on Science It is important to ensure continuity in supply operation of The National DNA and Technology for establishment of ethical of the operational services from The National Database review and is considering how best to DNA Database whilst these organisational Over the last 5 years, various independent establish an Ethics Review Panel. It is changes are implemented and settle in. To that review bodies have called for more public envisaged that this would review not only end, it is currently proposed that, for a period accountability in the way The National DNA research requests, but also current and future of up to 3 years, the delivery of the operational Database is operated. Their recommendations development of National DNA Database policy, services will remain with the FSS, through a have consistently highlighted the need for an thus providing for clearly independent formal contract managed by the Custodian. It independent body to be established with lay oversight of the operational and policy will then be open to competition. The membership to oversee the workings of the decisions made in the course of Database contractualisation of this service will ensure Database and for the establishment of an business. The membership of this Panel will be more formal, transparent and legally binding Ethics Committee to which they could refer drawn from individuals with appropriate control of the provision of Database services. issues for advice. The McFarland Report also experience on other ethics committees. recommended that the FSS, who since the Development of The National DNA Database inception of The National DNA Database have National DNA Operations Group and operational services provided the Custodianship of the Database as The National DNA Operations Group is There has been a rolling programme of work to well as being the main provider of DNA profiling continuing under the chairmanship of the develop the IT infrastructure and application services for the police, should no longer have ACPO member of the Strategy Board to provide software of The National DNA Database, funded that dual role, and that when the FSS moves advice and support to the Board on issues through the Home Office DNA Expansion towards privatisation the Custodianship of the related to the operational implementation of Programme. This will need to continue. It Database should remain in the public sector. Board policies and their impact on crime requires a thorough knowledge of the existing prevention and detection. This group is made arrangements and is intimately associated The National DNA Database Board up of representatives from police forces, with the delivery of operational services. The The G