INTERPOL DNA Gateway to be used for international crime scene profile comparison

More than 120 delegates are attending the conference which highlights advances in DNA profiling.

Delegates at INTERPOL’s 5th International DNA Users’ conference have endorsed calls for DNA profiles from unsolved crime scenes to be submitted to INTERPOL's database for international comparison.

Nearly 120 police investigators, forensic scientists, laboratory heads and database custodians attending the three-day conference in Lyon also supported the recommendation that DNA samples and fingerprints of arrested non-nationals should be sent to the General Secretariat in order to establish if the individual is wanted internationally.

In line with INTERPOL’s stringent security protocols, all DNA would be sent anonymously, with the member country concerned retaining ownership of the profile data. Countries which submit data are immediately alerted to any 'hits' generated against other profiles in the database enabling the respective investigative teams to make direct contact.

'Sharing DNA profiles internationally will have a significant impact on the capacity of investigators worldwide in solving cases and identifying and arresting criminals and terrorists,' said INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble.

'This should be a standard procedure for policing in the 21st Century and to not do so unnecessarily risks the security of all countries and the safety of their citizens.'

Created in 2003, INTERPOL maintains the only global DNA database which currently contains more than 70,000 profiles submitted by 46 countries. Of these, 17 countries have signed up to the DNA Gateway charter which allows for countries to have direct access to the Interpol DNA database.

See also

Keynote speech by John Dickinson (14 November 2007)   Opening remarks by Secretary General Ronald K. Noble (14 November 2007)   Police and scientific experts meet for INTERPOL DNA conference (14 November 2007)