£6M Investment Boosts DNA Profiling

New technology is allowing forensic scientists in Scotland to lead the way'' in DNA profiling following a £6 million investment, according to the Justice Secretary.

The techniques being used in laboratories at the Scottish Crime Campus at Gartcosh, North Lanarkshire, offer scientists the ability to process smaller or lower quality samples held on file for decades.

The latest technology looks at 24 areas of a person's DNA - a step up from the 11 areas that made up previous DNA profiling and an advance on the 17 areas which is the European standard.

Teams working at the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) Forensic Services laboratories said they are now obtaining more DNA profiles than ever before using the DNA24/GlobalFiler technology.

Justice Secretary Michael Matheson visited the facility today to formally launch the new technology, which is provided by Thermo Fisher Scientific based in Paisley.

He said: It is fantastic to see Scotland leading the way in this field with the most advanced DNA profiling in Europe, backed by a £6 million investment from the Scottish Government.

Scotland is getting safer and crime is at a 40-year low but new and innovative technology like DNA24 is crucial to tackling and preventing future crime throughout Scotland and beyond.

As well as being a vital tool in the armour for tackling organised crime and terrorism, this facility will be invaluable in the investigation of historical 'cold' cases, helping bring answers to the families of victims of crime who are still waiting for justice to be served.

These facilities should also serve as a powerful deterrent for potential criminals too, as our ever more sophisticated systems and technology means our justice agencies are tackling crime head on. There is nowhere for criminals to hide.''

The investment has included upgrading facilitates and training staff. Tom Nelson, director of SPA Forensic Services, said: DNA24 provides the criminal justice system in Scotland with the most sensitive and informative DNA profiling results currently possible. It offers a major step forward in enhancing the contribution forensic services can make to the pursuit of justice in Scotland.

This technology will be particularly invaluable in processing samples for cold cases. The recent successful prosecution in the World's End murder trial demonstrates how DNA technology can be vital in getting justice for victims and their families long after the crime has been committed.

The detailed analysis offered by DNA24 will be pivotal in processing DNA samples which have been held on file for many years and which are likely to be of poorer quality.

This technology, powered by the skills and expertise of trained forensic services staff, is an innovative way forward for science in Scotland. However, it will also allow the authorities in Scotland to reach back in time, with the potential to rekindle justice for those who had all but given up hope.''

The World's End case saw serial killer Angus Sinclair, 69, jailed for 37 years in November last year after he was convicted of murdering teenage friends Christine Eadie and Helen Scott in 1977.

Deputy Chief Constable, Crime and Operational Support, Iain Livingstone, said: We are excited by this investment in new DNA technology which will be a crucial tool in our drive to improve the safety and well-being of people, places and communities across Scotland.

In a perfect world, every crime scene would give us a complete DNA sample each and every time but unfortunately crime scenes do not always give us that luxury and this new technology will be vital in helping us catch more perpetrators of crime.

In addition, the ability to now get DNA matches from older or degraded samples is of particular interest to Police Scotland as it can help us prosecute criminals who may have thought they had gotten away with their crimes.''