LYON, France – INTERPOL has sent a DNA expert to assist the Jamaican Police in their investigation into the murder of Pakistan cricket coach, Bob Woolmer.

Following a request from the Minister of National Security, the Hon Peter Phillips with full support from the head of the Jamaican police and case investigators, Dr Susan Hitchin from the General Secretariat’s Forensic Support and Specialised Technical Databases unit travelled to Kingston on Monday April 2.

Reporting to the lead officer in the murder enquiry, Dr Hitchin will provide the assistance to the investigation by searching the INTERPOL DNA database to detect any potential profile matches against those sent to INTERPOL by member countries.

To maintain the highest level of data protection, DNA profiles in the database are anonymous, with member countries retaining ownership and control of how the data is used and accessed in accordance with their national laws.

Dr Hitchin will also train authorised officers from the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Kingston to consult the online INTERPOL DNA Gateway to ensure that the Jamaican Police have permanent direct access to this international database.

The deployment of the DNA specialist to Jamaica is part of INTERPOL’s ongoing provision of security and operational assistance to law enforcement agencies throughout the Caribbean region during the Cricket World Cup.

In addition to the INTERPOL Liaison Office established in Trinidad and Tobago in October 2006 INTERPOL has worked with all nine host countries to ensure law enforcement officers at border control points have access to its Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) database.

Containing nearly 14 million documents from more than 120 countries, the technology developed by INTERPOL enables officers to carry out an instant check in order to identify any person attempting to enter the region on a lost or stolen passport.