VICTORIA JOINS QUEENSLAND IN DNA DATABASE MATCHING
Published Tuesday, 11 September, 2007 at 08:44 AM
Minister for Police and Corrective Services
The Honourable Judy Spence
Victoria is the latest state to follow Queensland’s lead and adopt legislation which streamlines the sharing of DNA profiles between states, Minister for Police Judy Spence said today.
“From today Queensland and Victoria will be able share DNA profiles from crime scenes in each state,” Ms Spence said.
“This will give police a better chance of cracking unsolved crimes in both states through DNA evidence.”
Ms Spence said Queensland has led the country in its DNA database matching systems and was the first state to integrate into the National Criminal Investigation DNA Database in September 2003.
“Last year our DNA legislation was recognised at the Australasian Police Ministerial Council meeting as the preferred model for inter-jurisdictional matching on the national database.”
“Since then the Commonwealth, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory have all joined Queensland on the NCIDD.
“Victoria’s addition is a significant development which builds on the existing DNA arrangements that Queensland already has in place with the Commonwealth and other states.”
Ms Spence said Queensland has achieved excellent results in terms of solving crime using DNA.
“We currently have more than 86,000 person samples and 10,000 crime scene samples uploaded to the national DNA database,” Ms Spence said.
“To date, Queensland police have made links between 249 samples held in Queensland and samples held by other jurisdictions through this database.
“In an era where there is greater mobility and where crime often crosses jurisdictional boundaries, it is important that there is a national approach to many policing issues.”
Ms Spence said New South Wales is now the only state not involved in cross-jurisdictional DNA matching with other states.
“I am looking forward to New South Wales coming on board and making the NCIDD a truly national crime fighting tool.”
Media Contact: Troy Davies 3239 6218, 0439 673 287.
“From today Queensland and Victoria will be able share DNA profiles from crime scenes in each state,” Ms Spence said.
“This will give police a better chance of cracking unsolved crimes in both states through DNA evidence.”
Ms Spence said Queensland has led the country in its DNA database matching systems and was the first state to integrate into the National Criminal Investigation DNA Database in September 2003.
“Last year our DNA legislation was recognised at the Australasian Police Ministerial Council meeting as the preferred model for inter-jurisdictional matching on the national database.”
“Since then the Commonwealth, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory have all joined Queensland on the NCIDD.
“Victoria’s addition is a significant development which builds on the existing DNA arrangements that Queensland already has in place with the Commonwealth and other states.”
Ms Spence said Queensland has achieved excellent results in terms of solving crime using DNA.
“We currently have more than 86,000 person samples and 10,000 crime scene samples uploaded to the national DNA database,” Ms Spence said.
“To date, Queensland police have made links between 249 samples held in Queensland and samples held by other jurisdictions through this database.
“In an era where there is greater mobility and where crime often crosses jurisdictional boundaries, it is important that there is a national approach to many policing issues.”
Ms Spence said New South Wales is now the only state not involved in cross-jurisdictional DNA matching with other states.
“I am looking forward to New South Wales coming on board and making the NCIDD a truly national crime fighting tool.”
Media Contact: Troy Davies 3239 6218, 0439 673 287.