Genetic policing : the use of DNA in criminal investigations

This book is about the increasing significance of DNA profiling for crime investigation in modern society. It focuses on developments in the UK as the world-leader in the development and application of forensic DNA technology and in the construction of DNA databases as an essential element in the successful use of DNA for forensic purposes. The book uses data collected during the course of Wellcome Trust funded research into police uses of the UK National DNA Database (NDNAD) to describe the relationship between scientific knowledge and police investigations. It will be illustrated throughout by reference to some of the major UK criminal cases in which DNA evidence has been presented and contested. Chapters in the book explain the scientific developments which have enabled DNA profiling to be applied to criminal investigation, the ways in which the state has directed this and how genetic technology has risen to such preeminence; how DNA evidence moved from its use in individual prosecutions to a major role in intelligence led policing, and saw the development of the UK National DNA Database; how legislative support for the NDNAD was mobilized, enabling the police to obtain and use genetic information on individuals. Finally, the authors examine the ways in which the DNA Expansion Programme, built on the supposed potential for the NDNAD to contribute to criminal detection, has been incorporated into a broader crime reduction strategy, and explore the implications for policing, governance and security of the continued expansion of the range and scope of the NDNAD. This book is about the increasing significance of DNA profiling for crime investigation in modern society. It focuses on developments in the UK as the world-leader in the development and application of forensic DNA technology and in the construction of DNA databases as an essential element in the successful use of DNA for forensic purposes. The book uses data collected during the course of Wellcome Trust funded research into police uses of the UK National DNA Database (NDNAD) to describe the relationship between scientific knowledge and police investigations. It is illustrated throughout by reference to some of the major UK criminal cases in which DNA evidence has been presented and contested. This book is about the increasing significance of DNA profiling for crime investigation in modern societies. It charts the historical development and rapid incorporation of DNA identification technologies within the criminal justice systems of a growing number of countries throughout the world and focuses attention on the UK as the world-leader in the forensic application of DNA. The authors provide the first sociohistorical overview of the construction and deployment of the UK's National DNA Database (NDNAD), and consider the implications of genetic profiling and databasing for the administration of criminal justice Chapters in the book explain the scientific developments which have enabled DNA profiling to be applied to criminal investigation and the ways in which the state has directed these developments; how genetic technology has risen to such pre-eminence within criminal justice systems; how DNA profiling and databasing moved from being used to support individual prosecutions to playing a major role in new forms of intelligence-led policing; and how legislative change supporting the NDNAD has been the mechanism through which these new operational uses have been made possible The book, drawing upon an extensive three-year research project looking at police uses of the NDNAD, describes the complex and shifting relationships between scientific knowledge and police investigations that have shaped the forensic applications of DNA profiling. It is illustrated throughout by reference to some of the major UK criminal cases in which DNA evidence has been presented and contested The authors examine the ways in which the DNA Expansion Programme, built on the supposed potential for the NDNAD to contribute to criminal detection, has been incorporated into a broader crime reduction strategy, and explore the implications for policing, governance and security of the continued growth in the range and scope of the NDNAD The use of DNA profiling plays an increasing role in modern criminal investigations. This book describes the relationship between scientific knowledge and criminal investigation