Written Question · S2W-29696 · Session 2
How many people registered on the National DNA Database were subsequently (a) convicted, (b) charged but not convicted and (c) not convicte…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people registered on the National DNA Database were subsequently (a) convicted, (b) charged but not convicted and (c) not convicted in Scotland in relation to the events leading to the DNA sample being taken, broken down by (i) gender, (ii) age group and (iii) ethnicity.
The answer
On 10 November 2006, therewere 204,141 criminal justice profiles obtained from arrested people registeredon the Scottish DNA database, of which:
(i) 99,770 profiles related toindividuals who are known to have been convicted of an offence as the profile is being held as a result of that conviction,and
(ii) 104,371 profiles relatedto individuals for whom criminal proceedings are still on-going in relation tothe events leading to their DNA being taken. Therefore, they have not at this time been convicted nor found innocentof the offence associated with those events.
There are also 8,658 unmatchedprofiles developed from crime scene material.
As regards the 99,770 individualsknown to have been convicted of an offence, it is not possible to distinguish between(i) those who were registered and subsequently convicted and (ii) those who wereconvicted and subsequently registered.
No individuals have been registeredand subsequently charged as charging precedes registration in all cases. Of the104,371 individuals for whom criminal proceedings are still on-going in relation to the events leading to their DNA being taken, the information available is as follows:
| No. of Profiles for which Criminal Proceedings are On-Going
Male, 16 and over
| 86,055
Female, 16 and over
| 16,068
Male, under 16
| 1809
Female, under 16
| 439
Total
| 104,371
On the issue of ethnicity, Irefer the member to the answer to question S2W-22738 on 6 February 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
Under current legislation, theprofiles of individuals who have not been and cannot be convicted (i.e. becausethey have been acquitted or absolutely discharged or have been subject to a decisionthat criminal proceedings will not be pursued) are removed from the database andno relevant records are kept.
(i) 99,770 profiles related toindividuals who are known to have been convicted of an offence as the profile is being held as a result of that conviction,and
(ii) 104,371 profiles relatedto individuals for whom criminal proceedings are still on-going in relation tothe events leading to their DNA being taken. Therefore, they have not at this time been convicted nor found innocentof the offence associated with those events.
There are also 8,658 unmatchedprofiles developed from crime scene material.
As regards the 99,770 individualsknown to have been convicted of an offence, it is not possible to distinguish between(i) those who were registered and subsequently convicted and (ii) those who wereconvicted and subsequently registered.
No individuals have been registeredand subsequently charged as charging precedes registration in all cases. Of the104,371 individuals for whom criminal proceedings are still on-going in relation to the events leading to their DNA being taken, the information available is as follows:
| No. of Profiles for which Criminal Proceedings are On-Going
Male, 16 and over
| 86,055
Female, 16 and over
| 16,068
Male, under 16
| 1809
Female, under 16
| 439
Total
| 104,371
On the issue of ethnicity, Irefer the member to the answer to question S2W-22738 on 6 February 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
Under current legislation, theprofiles of individuals who have not been and cannot be convicted (i.e. becausethey have been acquitted or absolutely discharged or have been subject to a decisionthat criminal proceedings will not be pursued) are removed from the database andno relevant records are kept.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S2W-29696 by reference.