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Source: www.gov.sg |
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Excerpt of speech by
Minister for Home Affairs Mr Wong Kan Seng at the Forensic Conference
2004 on 14 Jul 2004 |
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"...Although
the Singapore Police Force DNA Database, which is being officially launched
today (14 Jul 2004) is relatively new, Police have in fact been using DNA
forensics from as early as 1991.
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"Back
then, DNA testing was largely confined to the direct matching of a suspect’s
DNA profile with that collected at the crime scene.
This meant that suspects implicated for one offence may not be readily
linked to previous offences committed by the same offender.
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"The
new DNA database, however, comprises both offenders’ DNA profiles as well as
DNA profiles recovered from crime scenes. Once a suspect’s DNA profile is
uploaded, it would be compared against all existing profiles in the database.
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"This
is particularly useful in surfacing repeat offenders as it helps establish
links between previous DNA profiles recovered.
This works in the same manner as the current
Automated Fingerprint Identification System 2 (AFIS 2), which allows Police to
screen latent prints collected from crime scenes with those stored in the
Criminal Records Office’s database.
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"....The
DNA database is also valuable in helping to rule out innocent suspects. This
focuses investigative efforts, thereby saving time and resources.
More importantly, it prevents the innocent from being wrongfully
charged.
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"Since
its inception last year, the DNA database has now accumulated some 38,000 DNA
profiles. This number is still growing. Based on empirical evidence from other
countries with established DNA databases, it seems that the larger the
database, the higher the chances of a crime being solved.
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"In
time, the DNA database should be more effective. In addition, since we use the
same DNA comparison software as that used by the INTERPOL and law enforcement
agencies in several other countries, the SPF DNA Database would contribute to
the verification of DNA profiles around the world....."
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Full
text of speech
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Source:
Singapore Government Press Release 14 Jul 2004
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DNA Database launched in Singapore
