How to cite this WIREs title:
WIREs Forensic Sci

The effectiveness of the current use of forensic DNA in criminal investigations in England and Wales

Focus Article

Aaron Opoku Amankwaa, Carole McCartney

Published Online: Feb 24 2021

DOI: 10.1002/wfs2.1414

Full article on Wiley Online Library: HTML PDF

Can't access this content? Tell your librarian.

Abstract In this article, we consider the effectiveness of DNA analysis in criminal investigations. Through this investigative tool, unknown victims, suspects, and serial offenders have been identified. At the same time, wrongly charged and convicted individuals have been eliminated from investigations or released from custody following DNA testing. We know forensic DNA analysis is powerful in individual cases/certain crime types, but its aggregate contribution to criminal detections is low and questioned. There is little evidence to demonstrate its actual contribution. We examined the possible reasons for the low impact of forensic DNA, with some recommendations that may further maximize its utility. Available evidence demonstrates that there remains a need to ensure value for money in continued investment in forensic DNA analysis. An evaluation of trends in criminal activities and detection opportunities utilizing DNA evidence may help in identifying specific areas where DNA is most useful, and resources can be focused. Additionally, the potential of integrated multi‐biometric analysis/systems and other evidence types should be explored. This article is categorized under: Forensic Biology > DNA Databases and Biometrics Forensic Biology > Forensic DNA Technologies Jurisprudence and Regulatory Oversight > Expert Evidence and Narrative

References

Alsaleh,, H., & Haddrill,, P. R. (2019). Identifying blood‐specific age‐related DNA methylation markers on the Illumina MethylationEPIC® BeadChip. Forensic Science International, 303, 109944. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.109944
Alshehhi,, S., & Haddrill,, P. R. (2019). Estimating time since deposition using quantification of RNA degradation in body fluid‐specific markers. Forensic Science International, 298, 58–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.02.046
Alshehhi,, S., McCallum,, N. A., & Haddrill,, P. R. (2017). Quantification of RNA degradation of blood‐specific markers to indicate the age of bloodstains. Forensic Science International: Genetics Supplement Series, 6, e453–e455. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigss.2017.09.175
Amankwaa,, A. O. (2018). Forensic DNA retention: Public perspective studies in the United Kingdom and around the world. Science %26 Justice, 58(6), 455–464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2018.05.002
Amankwaa,, A. O., & McCartney,, C. (2018). The UKnational DNA database: Implementation of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012. Forensic Science International, 284, 117–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.12.041
Amankwaa,, A. O., & McCartney,, C. (2019). The effectiveness of the UKnational DNA database. Forensic Science International: Synergy, 1, 45–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2019.03.004
BBC News. (2018, May 3). Colin pitchfork: Double child killer denied parole. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-43993232
BBC News. (2020, June 29). Golden state killer pleads guilty to 13 murders. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53226327
Bieber,, F. R. (2006). Turning Base hits into earned runs: Improving the effectiveness of forensic DNA data Bank programs. Journal of Law, Medicine %26 Ethics, 34(2), 222–233. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-720X.2006.00029.x
Black,, D. S. (2018). All that remains: A life in death. London: Doubleday Penguin.
Briody,, M. (2002). The effects of DNA evidence on sexual offence cases in court. Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 14, 159–181.
Briody,, M. (2004). The effects of DNA evidence on homicide cases in court. Australian %26 New Zealand Journal of Criminology, 37(2), 231–252. https://doi.org/10.1375/acri.37.2.231
Briody,, M. (2006). The effects of DNA evidence on property offences in court. Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 17, 380–396.
Buscaino,, J., Barican,, A., Farrales,, L., Goldman,, B., Klevenberg,, J., Kuhn,, M., … King,, D. (2018). Evaluation of a rapid DNA process with the RapidHIT® ID system using a specialized cartridge for extracted and quantified human DNA. Forensic Science International: Genetics, 34, 116–127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigen.2018.02.010
Council of the European Union. (2018). Draft council conclusions on the implementation of the “PRÜM DECISIONS” ten years after their adoption. Council of the European Union. http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-10550-2018-INIT/en/pdf
De Moor,, S., Vandeviver,, C., & Vander Beken,, T. (2018). Integrating police‐recorded crime data and DNA data to study serial co‐offending behaviour. European Journal of Criminology, 15(5), 632–651. https://doi.org/10.1177/1477370817749499
Doleac,, J. L. (2016). How do state crime policies affect other states? The externalities of state DNA database laws (SSRN Scholarly Paper ID 2892046). Social Science Research Network.
Doleac,, J. L. (2017). The effects of DNA databases on crime. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 9(1), 165–201. https://doi.org/10.1257/app.20150043
Doleac,, J. L., Landersø,, R., Anker,, T., & Sofie,, A. (2016). The effects of DNA databases on the deterrence and detection of offenders (SSRN Scholarly Paper ID 2811790). Social Science Research Network.
ENFSI DNA WG. (n.d.). STRidER 2.0. http://strider.online/about
EUROFORGEN. (2017). Making sense of forensic genetics. Sense about Science. https://senseaboutscience.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/making-sense-of-forensic-genetics.pdf
FIND Strategy Board. (2019). National DNA database: Annual report, 2017 to 2018. Forensic Information Database Strategy Board. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/778064/National_DNA_database_annual_report__2017‐18_web.pdf
FIND Strategy Board. (2020). National DNA database Strategy Board biennial report 2018–2020. Forensic Information Database Strategy Board.
Forensic Science and Pathology Unit. (2005). DNA expansion Programme 2000–2005: Reporting achievement. Home Office.
Gaughran (Appellant) v Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (Respondent) (Northern Ireland), No. 29 (UKSC 2015). https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKSC/2015/29.html
Gaughran v The United Kingdom, No. 144 (ECHR February 13, 2020). https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=/eu/cases/ECHR/2020/144.html%26query=(Gaughran)
Gill,, P. (2014). Misleading DNA evidence: Reasons for miscarriages of justice. Amsterdam: Academic Press.
Gill,, P., Haned,, H., Bleka,, O., Hansson,, O., Dørum,, G., & Egeland,, T. (2015). Genotyping and interpretation of STR‐DNA: Low‐template, mixtures and database matches—Twenty years of research and development. New Trends in Forensic Science Genetics, 18, 100–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigen.2015.03.014
Home Office. (2020). National DNA database statistics: Q2 2020 to 2021. Home Office. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-dna-database-statistics
Home Office, & Brokenshire,, J. (2013, October 24). Protection of freedoms act implementation and national DNA database annual report 2012 to 2013. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/protection-of-freedoms-act-implementation-and-national-dna-database-annual-report-2012-to-2013
Huffman,, K., Hanson,, E., & Ballantyne,, J. (2021). Recovery of single source DNA profiles from mixtures by direct single cell subsampling and simplified micromanipulation. Science %26 Justice, 61(1), 13–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2020.10.005
INTERPOL. (2016). Global DNA profiling survey results 2016. INTERPOL.
Kayser,, M. (2015). Forensic DNA phenotyping: Predicting human appearance from crime scene material for investigative purposes. Forensic Science International: Genetics, 18, 33–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigen.2015.02.003
Ludwig,, A. (2016). E `value` ating forensic science. Forensic Science Policy %26 Management: An International Journal, 7(3–4), 69–80. https://doi.org/10.1080/19409044.2016.1177863
Lynch,, M. (2003). God`s signature: DNA profiling, the new gold standard in forensic science. Endeavour, 27(2), 93–97.
MacGregor,, A. (2014). Annual report 2014: Commissioner for the retention and use of biometric material. Office of the Biometrics Commissioner. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/biometrics-commissioner-annual-report-2013-2014
MacGregor,, A. (2016). Annual report 2015: Commissioner for the retention and use of biometric material. Office of the Biometrics Commissioner.
Machado,, H., & Silva,, S. (2019). What influences public views on forensic DNA testing in the criminal field? A scoping review of quantitative evidence. Human Genomics, 13(1), 23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40246-019-0207-5
McCartney,, C. (2006). The DNA expansion Programme and criminal investigation. British Journal of Criminology, 46(2), 175–192. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azi094
Meintjes‐Van Der Walt,, L. (2011). A south African intelligence DNA database: Panacea or panopticon. South African Journal on Human Rights, 27, 496–521.
National DNA Database Board. (2003). National DNA database: Annual report, 2002 to 2003. Forensic science service.
ONS. (2020). Crime in England and Wales: Year ending March 2020. Office for National Statistics. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/crimeinenglandandwales/yearendingmarch2020#overall-estimates-of-crime
Pfaffelhuber,, P., Grundner‐Culemann,, F., Lipphardt,, V., & Baumdicker,, F. (2020). How to choose sets of ancestry informative markers: A supervised feature selection approach. Forensic Science International: Genetics, 46, 102259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigen.2020.102259
R v Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police (Respondent) ex parte LS (by his mother and litigation friend JB) (FC) (Appellant) and R v Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police (Respondent) ex parte Marper (FC) (Appellant), No. 39 (UKHL July 22, 2004). http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKHL/2004/39.html
Rennison,, A. (2012). Report into the circumstances of a complaint received from the greater Manchester police on march 7, 2012 regarding DNA evidence provided by LGC forensics. Forensic Science Regulator.
Roman,, J. K., Reid,, S. E., Chalfin,, A. J., & Knight,, C. R. (2009). The DNA field experiment: A randomized trial of the cost‐effectiveness of using DNA to solve property crimes. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 5(4), 345–369. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11292-009-9086-4
Royal Society. (2017). Forensic DNA analysis: A primer for courts. London: Royal Society. https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/19470629/royal_society_forensic_dna_analysis_primer_for_courts.pdf
S and Marper v The United Kingdom, no. 1581 (ECHR December 4, 2008). http://www.bailii.org/eu/cases/ECHR/2008/1581.html
Salceda,, S., Barican,, A., Buscaino,, J., Goldman,, B., Klevenberg,, J., Kuhn,, M., … King,, D. (2017). Validation of a rapid DNA process with the RapidHIT® ID system using GlobalFiler® Express chemistry, a platform optimized for decentralized testing environments. Forensic Science International: Genetics, 28, 21–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigen.2017.01.005
Science and Technology Committee. (2016). Forensic science strategy: Fourth report of session 2016–17. House of Commons.
Skinner,, D., & Wienroth,, M. (2019). Was this an ending? The destruction of samples and deletion of records from the UK Police National DNA Database. BJHS Themes, 4, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1017/bjt.2019.7
Struyf,, P., De Moor,, S., Vandeviver,, C., Renard,, B., & Vander Beken,, T. (2019). The effectiveness of DNA databases in relation to their purpose and content: A systematic review. Forensic Science International, 301, 371–381. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.05.052
Szkuta,, B., Ansell,, R., Boiso,, L., Connolly,, E., Kloosterman,, A. D., Kokshoorn,, B., … van Oorschot,, R. A. H. (2019). Assessment of the transfer, persistence, prevalence and recovery of DNA traces from clothing: An inter‐laboratory study on worn upper garments. Forensic Science International: Genetics, 42, 56–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigen.2019.06.011
Toom,, V., Granja,, R., & Ludwig,, A. (2019). The Prüm decisions as an aspirational regime: Reviewing a decade of cross‐border exchange and comparison of forensic DNA data. Forensic Science International: Genetics, 41, 50–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigen.2019.03.023
Tully,, G. (2020). Forensic science regulator: Annual report 2018–2019. Forensic Science Regulator. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/877607/20200225_FSR_Annual_Report_2019_Final.pdf
van der Beek,, K. (2015). Measuring the effectiveness and efficiency of forensic DNA‐databases. International symposium on human identification (ISHI), Grapevine, TX. https://www.promega.com/-/media/files/products-and-services/genetic-identity/ishi-26-oral-abstracts/9-van-der-beek.pdf
van Oorschot,, R. A. H., Szkuta,, B., Meakin,, G. E., Kokshoorn,, B., & Goray,, M. (2019). DNA transfer in forensic science: A review. Forensic Science International: Genetics, 38, 140–166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigen.2018.10.014
Wallace,, H. (2006). The UKnational DNA database: Balancing crime detection, human rights and privacy. EMBO Reports, 7, S26–S30. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.embor.7400727
Walport,, M., Craig,, C., & Surkovic,, E. (2015). Annual report of the government chief scientific adviser 2015: Forensic science and beyond: Authenticity, provenance and assurance. Government Office for Science.
Wiles,, P. (2017). Annual report 2016: Commissioner for the retention and use of biometric material. Office of the Biometrics Commissioner.
Wiles,, P. (2018). Annual report 2017: Commissioner for the retention and use of biometric material. Office of the Biometrics Commissioner.
Wiles,, P. (2019). Annual report 2018: Commissioner for the retention and use of biometric material. Office of the Biometrics Commissioner.
Wiles,, P. (2020). Annual report 2019: Commissioner for the retention and use of biometric material. Office of the Biometrics Commissioner. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/897090/Biometrics_Commissioner_Annual_Report_Web_Access.pdf

Access to this WIREs title is by subscription only.

Recommend to Your
Librarian Now!

The effectiveness of the current use of forensic DNA in criminal investigations in England and Wales

Browse by Topic

Access to this WIREs title is by subscription only.

The latest WIREs articles in your inbox