Monday 17 June 2019


New DNA profiling technology could tell police who suspects are in under an hour

A new portable device that can identify suspects in less than an hour using DNA left at the scene of a crime is set to transform the way police track down criminals.

Police forensic and search officers at the scene of a fatal shooting in the Clapham Park area of London, forensic investigation, forensic, forensic police, crime scene
The device uses a rapid form of DNA profiling to produce a genetic fingerprint from blood, saliva and skin cells left at crime scenes Photo: ALAMY

It could mark the end of the traditional television sleuth drama. A new device that can identify suspects from DNA left at the scene of a crime in under an hour is set to transform the way police track down criminals.

The portable technology, which is about the same size as piece of airline carry on luggage, uses a rapid form of DNA profiling to produce a genetic fingerprint from blood, saliva and skin cells left at crime scenes.

Without leaving the scene of the crime, the device, which has been developed by forensics experts, can then check the profile against the centrally held National DNA Database to reveal the identity of the criminal responsible in under an hour.

Currently it takes at least three days to identify suspects from samples taken from crime scenes using laboratory based forensic techniques.

The new technology would mean that burglars could be caught before they have the chance to sell on their stolen goods and violent criminals could be snared before they can strike again.

But while in the real world it could allow police to catch suspects within hours of them committing a crime, the device could mean the plots of television detective dramas become a little thin.

Dr Steve Allen, managing director of LGC Forensics which has developed the device in a project known as RapiDNA, said it could become an important tool in helping police get intelligence quickly.

He said: "Within 60 minutes of taking a sample it can produce a profile which can be transmitted to the DNA database and come back with a match.

"It would be an intelligence tool that could allow police to identify and catch burglars, for example, while they still have stolen goods on their possession. Once they have caught the suspect, they can use traditional forensic techniques as part of the evidence gathering if the case needs to go to court as the timescales are longer there.

"It could also be used in border control situations to check whether two people who say they are related really are. We also envisage it being used to help identify disaster victims."

Prototypes of the RapiDNA system are currently being piloted in a series of tests alongside traditional techniques and the technology is being assessed by the National Policing Improvement Agency.

If proven to be successful it could start being deployed by police forces in around a year.

The device was developed by LGC Forensics, a division of the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, which was privatised in 1996, in a bid to provide police with a portable DNA profiling machine that could be easily carried to crime scenes.

A disposable sampling device is used to pick up biological material such as cells in body fluids that have been left at a crime scene. The samples are then placed into a sealed sample wells that is inserted into the portable profiling device.

It produces a partial DNA fingerprint that can then sent wirelessly to be checked against the National DNA Database before producing a DNA match against a suspect.

David Reardon, business development manager at LGC Forensics, said: "The science behind it is relatively unique and we have managed to bypass a number of steps in the DNA profiling process to make the analysis quicker and inexpensive. We wanted something that is easily portable and could be carried up several flights of stairs.

"We are conducting field tests with pilot police forces around the country and if it is successful we see this becoming a basic tool that can be used to target volume crime such as burglaries and car crime.

"DNA forensics can make a real impact in these crimes, but is may not be used often becuaes it is time consuming or perceived as expensive.

"If police officers can get an answer to a suspects identity within an hour, however, it could mean these crimes can be resolved. Once it is proven there we could also see it being deployed in more serious or violent crimes."

A spokesman for the NPIA said: "Accelerated DNA matching is a tremendously exciting development that will provide a major leap forward for policing.

"It will make DNA as quick as fingerprint checking and tell police almost immediately whether a suspect is linked to a crime scene and if they are connected to other offences.

"The benefits of this new technology lie not only in detecting the guilty swiftly but also in eliminating the innocent from police inquiries."

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