* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download Media Release
Survey
Document related concepts
Comparative genomic hybridization wikipedia , lookup
Maurice Wilkins wikipedia , lookup
Artificial gene synthesis wikipedia , lookup
DNA vaccination wikipedia , lookup
DNA profiling wikipedia , lookup
Transformation (genetics) wikipedia , lookup
Nucleic acid analogue wikipedia , lookup
Non-coding DNA wikipedia , lookup
Molecular cloning wikipedia , lookup
Gel electrophoresis of nucleic acids wikipedia , lookup
Cre-Lox recombination wikipedia , lookup
Community fingerprinting wikipedia , lookup
Transcript
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