World's biggest DNA database gets larger

The number of records on the UK government's DNA database has passed the three million mark, and the number of crimes solved using the profiles continues to rise.

Just over five per cent of the UK population is on the database, compared with one per cent in Austria - the second biggest user of the technology - and half a per cent in the US.

Powers introduced in April 2004 enable the police to take and retain a DNA sample and fingerprints from persons arrested for a recordable offence.

Crimes solved through DNA analysis have quadrupled over the last five years, and the number of profiles held on the database has climbed from 2.5 million in March 2004 to in excess of three million now. This is expected to grow to more than four million within a couple of years.

The number of "direct DNA detections" stood at 19,873 last year, with another 15,732 crimes detected as a result of further investigations linked to the original case in which DNA was recovered.

The database is now providing police with around 3,000 matches per month, improving their ability to solve serious crime.

More than £300m has been invested in the database programme over five years.

Home Office minister, Andy Burnham, said in a statement: "We are committed to building on this success and our main objective now is to ensure that the National DNA Database is kept up to date and that newcomers to crime and those that have so far evaded police attention have their profiles added to the National DNA Database as soon as possible."

Powers introduced in April 2004 enable the police to take and retain a DNA sample and fingerprints from persons arrested for a recordable offence. Burnham said these powers will also assist in the continuing build up of the database and provide new scope to "detect offenders at an early stage".

According to government figures, 139,463 people are on the DNA database who have not been charged or cautioned with an offence.