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| Mandatory DNA database rejected | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| There are no plans to extend the DNA database to contain information from all people, the Home Office has said. | There are no plans to extend the DNA database to contain information from all people, the Home Office has said. |
| Calls for its content to be made universal have followed the conviction of two murderers using DNA evidence. | Calls for its content to be made universal have followed the conviction of two murderers using DNA evidence. |
| Suffolk serial killer Steve Wright and Sally Anne Bowman's murderer, Mark Dixie were both captured because their DNA was taken after unrelated offences. | Suffolk serial killer Steve Wright and Sally Anne Bowman's murderer, Mark Dixie were both captured because their DNA was taken after unrelated offences. |
| But the Home Office said a mandatory database "would raise significant practical and ethical issues". | |
| The DNA database, which covers England and Wales, currently contains around 4.5m profiles - routinely taken from criminal suspects after most arrests. | The DNA database, which covers England and Wales, currently contains around 4.5m profiles - routinely taken from criminal suspects after most arrests. |
| Debate call | Debate call |
| Steve Wright's profile was on the system after being convicted of theft in 2003. | Steve Wright's profile was on the system after being convicted of theft in 2003. |
| When police found his DNA on the bodies of some of his victims they matched it with his profile. | When police found his DNA on the bodies of some of his victims they matched it with his profile. |
| But Mark Dixie was not on the system at the time of Sally Anne Bowman's murder. | But Mark Dixie was not on the system at the time of Sally Anne Bowman's murder. |
| It was only when he was arrested for assault after a fight in a bar that his DNA was taken and he was linked to the murder. | It was only when he was arrested for assault after a fight in a bar that his DNA was taken and he was linked to the murder. |
| He was arrested within five hours. | He was arrested within five hours. |
| Det Supt Stuart Cundy, who led the murder hunt, said: "It is my opinion that a national DNA register - with all its appropriate safeguards - could have identified Sally Anne's murderer within 24 hours. | Det Supt Stuart Cundy, who led the murder hunt, said: "It is my opinion that a national DNA register - with all its appropriate safeguards - could have identified Sally Anne's murderer within 24 hours. |
| "Instead it took nearly nine months before Mark Dixie was identified and almost two and a half years for justice to be done." | "Instead it took nearly nine months before Mark Dixie was identified and almost two and a half years for justice to be done." |
| The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) is also calling for a debate on the issue. | The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) is also calling for a debate on the issue. |
| The Chief Constable of Lincolnshire, Tony Lake, speaks for the association on DNA. | The Chief Constable of Lincolnshire, Tony Lake, speaks for the association on DNA. |
| He said: "If there was a national database of everybody then we would solve more crime, of that there is absolutely no doubt. | He said: "If there was a national database of everybody then we would solve more crime, of that there is absolutely no doubt. |
| "In the conviction of Steve Wright - and today of Mark Dixie - you've heard about the vital importance that DNA played. But any database that we hold has to be reasonable and proportionate in the eyes of the public." | "In the conviction of Steve Wright - and today of Mark Dixie - you've heard about the vital importance that DNA played. But any database that we hold has to be reasonable and proportionate in the eyes of the public." |
| The statement issued by the Home Office said: "There are no government plans to introduce a universal compulsory, or voluntary, national DNA Database and to do so would raise significant practical and ethical issues." | The statement issued by the Home Office said: "There are no government plans to introduce a universal compulsory, or voluntary, national DNA Database and to do so would raise significant practical and ethical issues." |