The National DNA Database Annual Report 2007-09

Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Court

The CPS is responsible for ensuring DNA evidence has DNA evidence plays a powerful role
conformed to the appropriate legislative process, and that in supporting prosecutions. However,
there is direct linkage between the evidence, the individual as with all evidential material, the
and the crime scene. The CPS will not prosecute based solely defence are able to challenge its
on DNA evidence – there must be corroborating material. validity and relevance.

Transport ➍ Forensic Supplier Laboratory ➎ NDNAD Service
Centre – Loading
DNA samples are security sealed in a DNA analysis is provided by selected forensic science DNA laboratories and Interrogation
tamper-proof bag, prior to collection which are accredited against quality standards set by the Forensic Science
by a courier. Every handover of the Regulator. Forensic suppliers ensure the full traceability of each sample, from Profiles obtained by the forensic
sealed courier bag is recorded, timed, point of delivery, through the testing procedure and forwarding of the DNA laboratories from sample analysis
and signed for auditable continuity of profiles electronically to the NDNAD Service Centre, plus subsequent storage are sent to the NDNAD Service
evidence purposes. of the sample. Centre for loading to the Database.
An individual’s profile will only be
loaded if there is consistency of the
unique reference numbers that have
accompanied the sample with the same
numbers within the NDNAD skeleton
record (previously generated from the
PNC) and the unique reference numbers
that have accompanied the sample.
In the rare event of a profile failing
to load, NDNAD personnel liaise with
the relevant police force and forensic
supplier laboratory to investigate and
resolve the discrepancy.
Following a successful load, the profile is
automatically searched against all the
pre-existing profiles on the Database.

➏ NDNAD Service
Centre –Match
Reporting

Matches between individuals and
crime scenes, or crime scenes and
crime scenes, generate a report which
is securely transmitted to the relevant
police force(s).

DNA Profile Transfer

DNA profiles derived from individuals
and crime scenes are securely
transmitted by the forensic laboratory
to the NDNAD custodian. The DNA
record contains a numeric string and
unique reference number. In the case
of England and Wales forces, the
profiles derived from individuals contain
neither personal nor demographic
information.

Glossary

ACPO DNA sample
The Association of Chief Police Officers, an independent, A physical sample of an individual’s DNA.
professionally led strategic body, which in the public
interest and in equal and active partnership with DNA profile
Government and the Association of Police Authorities A numerical representation following analysis of a DNA
leads and co-ordinates the direction and development of sample.
the police service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
NDNAD Ethics Group
APA An advisory non-Departmental Public Body set up to
The Association of Police Authorities, an organisation provide independent advice on ethical issues concerning
set up on 1st April 1997 to represent police authorities the NDNAD to Ministers and the NDNAD Strategy Board.
in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, both on the
national stage and locally. It influences policy on policing FSS
and supports local police authorities in their important Forensic Science Service Limited, a Government Owned
role. Company.

CJS Human Genetics Commission
Criminal Justice System An advisory body set up by the UK Government at the
end of 1999 to consider the public interest issues in
CPS relation to developments in genetic science.
The Crown Prosecution Service, the Government
Department responsible for prosecuting criminal cases Match group
investigated by the police in England and Wales. A match group consists of two or more profiles that are
indistinguishable or compatible, insofar as comparison is
Crime scene sample possible. A match group may comprise any combination
A DNA sample recovered from the scene of a crime. of profiles eg two or more subject profiles, two or more
crime scene profiles or a mix of subject and crime scene
Crime scene profile profiles.
The DNA profile derived from analysing a crime scene
sample. NDNAD
National DNA Database
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid, a substance found in most cells NPIA
of all people, and in the cells of animals, plants, and National Policing Improvement Agency
other organic matter. Variations in the DNA code are
responsible for physical differences between individuals PACE
including their sex, height and eye colour. Except for Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
identical siblings, each person’s DNA is unique.

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PNC 51
The Police National Computer, which holds extensive
data on arrested individuals, vehicles and property and
is accessible from over 120,000 terminals across the
country. In particular, it contains details of persons from
whom DNA samples have been taken under PACE. A
subset of these details is transferred electronically to
create a stub record on the NDNAD to which the DNA
profile is subsequently attached.

SGM
The Second Generation Multiplex DNA profiling system,
introduced in 1995, which allows the simultaneous
analysis of six loci and a gender marker to produce a DNA
profile with an average match probability of about one in
fifty million. SGM was the original DNA system used for
the NDNAD.

SGM Plus
The current system of DNA profiling used in the UK,
known as SGM Plus1 examines 10 areas of DNA plus a
gender test and produces a numeric DNA ‘profile’ that
can be loaded electronically onto the NDNAD. This
contains two numerical representations of the DNA at
each area examined, one inherited from the mother and
the other from the father. Although each person’s DNA
is unique (apart from identical siblings) DNA profiling
does not examine all variations between individuals and
is therefore not unique to an individual. It does, however,
examine those areas of the DNA that discriminate widely
between individuals and the chance of two unrelated
individuals having matching full SGM Plus profiles is less
than one in a 1000 million.

Subject sample
A DNA sample taken from a known individual, usually
following an arrest.

Subject profile
The DNA profile derived from analysing a subject sample.

1 AmpFLSTR SGM Plus®

NDNAD Annual REPORT 2007-09

Notes

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NDNAD Annual REPORT 2007-09 53