THE Minister for Justice has said the introduction of a new DNA database will revolutionise the detection and prevention of rape and sexual assault.
Speaking at the release of the recent Annual Report of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) for 2012, the minister said a new ‘Database Bill’ will be published in September.
“Rape and sexual assault are abhorrences that blight our country,” the minister said. “The gardaí do everything in their power to prevent these crimes and to detect them when they occur.
“DNA has played an important role in solving many sex crimes. However, without a database, we cannot exploit the full potential of the technology.”
The minister revealed that work has been ongoing in the last two years on the preparation of the required legislation that is now almost complete.
He explained that the new database will hold the DNA profiles of every person convicted of any offence that attracts a sentence of five years or more for rape and most other sexual offences.
People serving prison sentences when the legislation is enacted will also have their profiles put on the database.
“Once the DNA database is operational, the gardaí will be able to match crime scene samples with profiles on the database,” the minister added.
“On top of that, the enhanced international cooperation provisions will allow the gardaí to access DNA databases in other EU member states, and in other countries with which we have bilateral arrangements, including the United States.”
The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre’s Annual Report reveals that 260 victims of rape and sexual assault were accompanied by trained DRCC volunteers at the Rotunda Sexual Assault Treatment Unit in 2012.
There was a 23 per cent increase in first time callers to the national 24-hour helpline operated by DRCC since 2010 and a seven per cent increase in calls from victims of adult sexual violence since 2009.
Neil Fetherson, Dublin People