INTERPOL HANDBOOK ON DNA DATA EXCHANGE AND PRACTICE

The more crime types and suspects there are in a national DNA Database, the highera country’s crime detection rate will be. National databases often have match ratesfor linking a crime scene profile with a previously stored person (between 20-50%). Itis therefore clear that DNA Databases can be used to solve high-volume crimes suchas burglary or car thefts which are traditionally very difficult crimes to solve by othermeans. DNA Database research has also shown that perpetrators often do not limitthemselves to one crime type. For example, it has been known for DNA profiles fromunsolved murders to be matched in a database containing offenders’ profiles for muchmore minor crimes, such as theft. The chance of finding a match for an unsolved crimescene profile thus increases with the number of potential criminal profiles stored. Thepotential of DNA Databases to assist with investigations was immediately realized bythe law-enforcement agencies using them. This success has an ongoing impact on thepolitical standpoint, resulting in less restrictive legislation regarding the crimes or thepersons for which DNA samples may be analysed and stored. It has also resulted in aconsiderable increase in database sizes over the last decade. The sizes of some of theexisting databases are shown in the following table.Table 4: number of profiles in DNA Databases for INTERPOL member countries(on your right)The total number of profiles provided as ‘Reference’ profiles is a combination of severalcategories: ‘Convicted’, ‘Suspect’, ‘Victim’ and ‘Other’. A comprehensive analysis ofDNA use and profiling categories around the world can be found on the INTERPOLrestricted website www.interpol.int in the document entitled «INTERPOL GlobalDNA Profiling Inquiry- Results and Analysis 2008». Additionally, statistics on EuropeanDNA Databases are available on the public ENFSI website.PAGE 54STATUS ON EXISTINGNATIONAL DNA DATABASES