❓ Mr. Birney asks about DNA analysis in sexual crime investigations since the introduction of DNA legislation. The Minister provides some data but cites resource constraints for a complete answer, deferring some questions to the Minister for Health.
AnsweredQoN 1871Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Will the Minister advise how many DNA samples have been submitted by investigating officers or others to be analysed for any sexual crimes including rape and sexual assault since the inception of the Government’s DNA legislation?
(2) Will the Minister advise the date that each sample referred to in (1) was submitted for analysis and the date that it was actually analysed and checked against the data base for a possible match?
(3) Will the Minister advise how many of the samples referred to in (1) actually resulted in a positive DNA match and the time that elapsed between the submitting of each sample and the positive match being obtained?
(4) Will the Minister advise the number of individuals that have been charged for sexual crimes following on from a positive DNA match being obtained and the length of time that elapsed between the original submitting of the sample for analysis and the actual analysis taking place that resulted in the positive match?
(5) Will the Minister advise how many individuals that were charged with sexual crimes following on from a positive DNA sample being obtained were found guilty, the time taken for the DNA sample to be analysed in each case and the details of each charge?
(2) Will the Minister advise the date that each sample referred to in (1) was submitted for analysis and the date that it was actually analysed and checked against the data base for a possible match?
(3) Will the Minister advise how many of the samples referred to in (1) actually resulted in a positive DNA match and the time that elapsed between the submitting of each sample and the positive match being obtained?
(4) Will the Minister advise the number of individuals that have been charged for sexual crimes following on from a positive DNA match being obtained and the length of time that elapsed between the original submitting of the sample for analysis and the actual analysis taking place that resulted in the positive match?
(5) Will the Minister advise how many individuals that were charged with sexual crimes following on from a positive DNA sample being obtained were found guilty, the time taken for the DNA sample to be analysed in each case and the details of each charge?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 December 2003
Responded by
Minister for Police and Emergency Services
Response time
98 days
(1) To advise the Member of the number of submitted samples that relate to sexual crimes would require the diversion of police resources from other duties. The Police Service estimate that it would take one FTE approximately ten days to review these records to collate and analyse the data. However, the Police Service advise that from 1 July 2002 to 30 August 2003, 17,136 crime scene samples were submitted to the PathCentre for DNA analysis.
Since the inception of the
Criminal Investigation (Identifying People) Act 2002,
in excess of 6,700
Requests for Analysis
have been submitted with exhibits. (It is worthy to note that a
Request for Analysis
may involve more than one DNA sample and therefore the number of
Requests for
Analysis is less than the number of DNA samples submitted to the PathCentre). Of the 6,700
Requests for Analysis
, 551 were related to sexual offences. However, each case may be subject to more than one
Request for Analysis
as exhibits may be submitted at different times over the course of an investigation.
(2 – 3) In addition to the ten days stated in part (1), the Police Service estimate that it would take one FTE a further 3 days to determine the dates each sample was submitted to the PathCentre. The remaining information requested should be referred to the Minister for Health as the PathCentre is within his portfolio.
(4 – 5) The Police Service advise the PathCentre reports the results of analysis to police in a document known as a Forensic Biology report. In serious or urgent cases, preliminary notification of results is made to the inquiry officer immediately following confirmation of a DNA match. Such a notification is performed before the Forensic Biology report is issued. Furthermore, the PathCentre can process an urgent case analysis within a week.
The Police Service estimate it would take one FTE approximately ten days to extract and collate all of the information requested. However, by means of example, the Police Service advise that between 1 July 2002 and 30 June 2003, 12 DNA database matches were recorded for previously unsolved sexual offences. At 30 June 2003, six of those persons had been charged. To date three have been convicted. Details of these convictions follow.
On 22 November 2002, a 33 year old man pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated burglary, two counts of deprivation of liberty, eight counts of aggravated indecent assault, one count of unlawful wounding, ten counts of aggravated sexual penetration and two counts of attempted aggravated sexual penetration after DNA linked four incidents together and also linked the offender to these crimes. He was sentenced in the Supreme Court to a total of 34 years imprisonment. Crime scene samples from the first and second incidents were submitted for analysis on 9 May 2002. A DNA reference sample from the offender was submitted for analysis on 10 July 2002. Crime scene samples from the third and fourth incidents were submitted for analysis on 30 August 2002 and the offender was subsequently charged with these offences on 5 September 2002.
On 9 June 2003, a 30 year old male person was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment when he pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of liberty, two counts of aggravated indecent assault, seven counts of aggravated sexual assault and one count of indecent assault after DNA linked him to the crimes. The crime scene samples were submitted for analysis on 17 December 1990 and a DNA reference sample was submitted for analysis on 23 August 2002. A Forensic Biology report of the match was issued on 19 September 2002 and he was charged on 18 January 2003.
On 27 September 2002, a 17-year-old male person was sentenced to 2 years detention when he pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated sexual penetration, two counts of aggravated sexual assault and one count of deprivation of liberty after DNA linked him to the crimes. The crime scene samples were submitted for analysis on 3 April 2002, a DNA reference sample was submitted on 26 August 2002, a Forensic Biology report of the match was issued on 28 August 2002 and he was charged on 6 September 2002.
Since the inception of the
Criminal Investigation (Identifying People) Act 2002,
in excess of 6,700
Requests for Analysis
have been submitted with exhibits. (It is worthy to note that a
Request for Analysis
may involve more than one DNA sample and therefore the number of
Requests for
Analysis is less than the number of DNA samples submitted to the PathCentre). Of the 6,700
Requests for Analysis
, 551 were related to sexual offences. However, each case may be subject to more than one
Request for Analysis
as exhibits may be submitted at different times over the course of an investigation.
(2 – 3) In addition to the ten days stated in part (1), the Police Service estimate that it would take one FTE a further 3 days to determine the dates each sample was submitted to the PathCentre. The remaining information requested should be referred to the Minister for Health as the PathCentre is within his portfolio.
(4 – 5) The Police Service advise the PathCentre reports the results of analysis to police in a document known as a Forensic Biology report. In serious or urgent cases, preliminary notification of results is made to the inquiry officer immediately following confirmation of a DNA match. Such a notification is performed before the Forensic Biology report is issued. Furthermore, the PathCentre can process an urgent case analysis within a week.
The Police Service estimate it would take one FTE approximately ten days to extract and collate all of the information requested. However, by means of example, the Police Service advise that between 1 July 2002 and 30 June 2003, 12 DNA database matches were recorded for previously unsolved sexual offences. At 30 June 2003, six of those persons had been charged. To date three have been convicted. Details of these convictions follow.
On 22 November 2002, a 33 year old man pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated burglary, two counts of deprivation of liberty, eight counts of aggravated indecent assault, one count of unlawful wounding, ten counts of aggravated sexual penetration and two counts of attempted aggravated sexual penetration after DNA linked four incidents together and also linked the offender to these crimes. He was sentenced in the Supreme Court to a total of 34 years imprisonment. Crime scene samples from the first and second incidents were submitted for analysis on 9 May 2002. A DNA reference sample from the offender was submitted for analysis on 10 July 2002. Crime scene samples from the third and fourth incidents were submitted for analysis on 30 August 2002 and the offender was subsequently charged with these offences on 5 September 2002.
On 9 June 2003, a 30 year old male person was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment when he pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of liberty, two counts of aggravated indecent assault, seven counts of aggravated sexual assault and one count of indecent assault after DNA linked him to the crimes. The crime scene samples were submitted for analysis on 17 December 1990 and a DNA reference sample was submitted for analysis on 23 August 2002. A Forensic Biology report of the match was issued on 19 September 2002 and he was charged on 18 January 2003.
On 27 September 2002, a 17-year-old male person was sentenced to 2 years detention when he pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated sexual penetration, two counts of aggravated sexual assault and one count of deprivation of liberty after DNA linked him to the crimes. The crime scene samples were submitted for analysis on 3 April 2002, a DNA reference sample was submitted on 26 August 2002, a Forensic Biology report of the match was issued on 28 August 2002 and he was charged on 6 September 2002.
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