NEW DNA TEST SET TO GET GO-AHEAD AMID CONTROVERSY OVER ANOTHER
Amid concerns over the accuracy of Low Copy Number DNA technology, the Government is set to give another the go-ahead.
DNAboost, which allows scientists to unravel mixed and previously unusable genetic samples - was hailed for its crime-fighting potential by former Prime Minister Tony Blair in 2006.
Police officers claim that the revolutionary DNA technology is capable of catching thousands more criminals every year.
Experts believe the powerful software will identify up to 6,000 extra
suspects annually, and could also help in cases such as that of missing
Madeleine McCann - where forensic evidence appears to have been
difficult to analyse.
However, despite impressive results from pilot schemes in Yorkshire,
Humberside and Northumbria, police have been banned from using the tool
for more than 12 months.
The long delay led detectives and scientists to complain that the
technology was falling victim to a "turf war" over the National DNA
Database.
The Forensic Science Service (FSS) - which developed DNAboost - was
stripped of control over the bank of 3.5 million samples in December
2005, when it was made an independent Government-backed company.
A Home Office strategy board including representatives from the
Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) and the Association of
Police Authorities (Apa) now decides how the database can be used.
A spokeswoman for the department has confirmed that the strategy board
had delivered its recommendation, and the matter had been passed to the
Attorney General for final sign-off.
"The Forensic Science Regulator was asked to undertake a scientific
review of the Forensic Science Service's DNAboost product," the
spokeswoman said.
"This was completed last year and the Acpo-chaired National DNA Database
Strategy Board then considered the issue in the light of the report.
"The resulting recommendation is currently before the Attorney General.
A decision is expected imminently."
A source close to the project said DNAboost was the "most validated DNA
technology in history".
"This is the biggest step forward in crime-fighting science for more
than a decade, and it has taken far too long to get clearance," the
source said.
"It looks like it's finally getting authorised, but we could have caught
thousands of criminals while they have gone through these hoops."
ENDS