Download Media Release

10 February 2010
MEDIA RELEASE
Crime solving delayed by forensic analysis
The Auditor-General, Mr Peter Achterstraat, today called for a review of the way that NSW Police manages
forensic analysis to solve crime.
“While police are using the latest technology to fight crime, the increased use has led to
delays,” Mr Achterstraat said.
There is a backlog of around 6,400 cases waiting for DNA evidence to be analysed.
“It will take more than a year to process this backlog with current resources even if no
more cases are received,” said Mr Achterstraat. “And in regional areas, police may wait
up to eight weeks to get the results of fingerprint analysis for common property crimes,”
he added.
“The problem with backlogs and delays is that while police wait for results, crimes
remain unsolved and criminals remain at large. This is not fair on the police and the
people of NSW,” Mr Achterstraat explained.
The main reason for the DNA backlog is that more items are being submitted than can be processed with
current resources.
“The demand for DNA analysis has increased by almost 40 per cent over the past five
years but the funding for DNA analysis hasn’t kept pace,” said Mr Achterstraat.
“Furthermore, police need to better manage the number of items per case they are
submitting for analysis.”
These are some of the findings released today in the NSW Audit Office report Managing Forensic Analysis –
Fingerprints and DNA. The audit examines what police have done to manage demand for analysis as well
as what has been done to increase capacity.
Mr Achterstraat presented three key solutions.
“Firstly, we need a user pays agreement for all DNA analysis. Secondly, police must
manage demand by determining the best evidence in a case and analysing that first. And
thirdly, the greatest impact on reducing property crimes will be analysing DNA evidence
for the most recent cases first by moving them to the front of the queue. This will give
police a better chance of catching criminals and preventing further crimes.”
The report also recommended that items be removed from the queue when DNA analysis is no longer
needed such as where the offender has been convicted.
Queensland and Victoria appear to have recently overcome a backlog in DNA analysis through increased
resourcing and different approaches to management. Queensland and Victoria have around one DNA
processing staff to every 150 police officers, while in NSW the ratio is one to 275.
“The safety of the people of NSW is of paramount importance. Crimes need to be solved
as quickly as possible and delays need to be eliminated,” said Mr Achterstraat. “The
efficient use of forensic analysis is critical in the prevention of further crime and needs
to be addressed immediately for the benefit of the public.”
Further information
Emily Watson, Governance Officer, on 9275 7105 or email [email protected]
Managing Forensic Analysis – Fingerprints and DNA – Key data
Funding for
DNA analysis
does not
match
demand
In 2004-05, DAL’s core capacity was almost 70 per cent of DNA items received, today it is
just over 40 per cent.
Exhibit 4: DNA case items submitted versus items analysed
50,000
45,000
40,000
35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2008-09
2007-08
Items Analysed with Core Funding
Items Analysed with Temporary Funding
Items Outsourced
Total Case Items Submitted By Police
Source: NSW Health
Note: The number of DNA case items submitted does not include non-case related DNA samples such as
those taken from convicted offenders.
In 2008-09 there were 8,039 of these samples.
Delays occur
while
evidence
waits in
queues for
work to
commence
Delays are often caused by items waiting for work to commence rather than the analysis
itself. In 2008-09, 45 per cent of items analysed from murders and manslaughters were
completed within a month of receipt. However, if DAL had the capacity to start work on
cases as soon as items arrived, police would have had a result within a month for 80 per cent
of these items.
Exhibit 7: Time from receipt at DAL to result returned to police
Selected crime types – 2008-09
Months
<1
<3
<6
<12
>12
Murder and Manslaughter
45%
75%
87%
94%
6%
Sexual Assault
33%
58%
76%
87%
13%
Break, Enter and Steal
12%
38%
56%
71%
29%
Stolen Vehicles
7%
32%
53%
71%
29%
All Offences
24%
53%
74%
87%
13%
Source: NSW Health
The number
of core DNA
processing
staff at DAL
is low
In 2009 there was only one DNA processing staff member at DAL for every 275 police officers
which was a lot less than other states.
Exhibit 10: DNA processing staff compared to police numbers and population, 2009
State
DNA
Processing Staff
(A)
Police
Force
(B)
Total
Population
(C)
Ratio
A:B:C
NSW (DAL)
57
15,661
7,076,500
1: 275: 124,149
Victoria
75
11,039
5,402,600
1: 147: 72,035
Queensland
75
10,645
4,380,000
1: 142: 58,405
Source: Audit Office Research