THE WA Government has dismissed calls for a compulsory DNA database but has promised to give police new powers to get DNA samples from crime suspects. Federal Liberal MP Peter Lindsay yesterday called for compulsory DNA testing of newborn babies to build a database which he said would be the most effective way to fight crime. Police Minister Michelle Roberts said such a move would not be considered but the Government had made passing new DNA laws a priority. Laws to allow police to take DNA samples from crime suspects, after getting the permission of a magistrate, were drafted by the previous government which did not have time to get them through Parliament.
Police now have the power to take samples from volunteers or people already charged with a crime.
Samples are generally taken from a mouth swab, although DNA is present in all bodily fluids and in skin cells. Mrs Roberts said anecdotal evidence from the introduction of DNA databases overseas was quite phenomenal. In Britain, it had lifted the clearance rate for serious crimes from 12 per cent, which was near WA's clearance rate, to about 40 per cent. It also has the potential to quickly clear innocent people who may be suspected of a crime. Similar laws were introduced by the NSW Government at the start of the year after the success of a voluntary testing campaign in solving a rape case in the small town of Wee Waa.