• Tweet

RELATED ARTICLES

• Stalled bill could save lives
• New forensics laboratory opened
• Police Minister: Forensics cleans up its act

A DNA database could help reduce investigation time and is also important because of the high rate of repeat offenders, said geneticist Dr Carolyn Hancock.

"Research indicates that 90% of rapists are repeat offenders and 50% of armed robbers are also repeat offenders," she said.

"Research in the UK indicates that when criminals are confronted with DNA evidence, 80% of them plead guilty and this could save an enormous amount of court time."

Hancock said DNA samples are taken from body fluids like semen, saliva and blood, tissue and hair.

"The DNA will only be analysed at 10 places - none of which reveal any information about a person."

She said identical twins shared the same DNA but not the same fingerprints.

"DNA is not the only form of evidence used to solve crime so fingerprints would help identify which twin committed the crime."

Currently, police take pictures and fingerprints.

Comments

• Sign in or sign up to comment

Wed Jun 19 08:10:16 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 27, 2012

Lehido

With the amount of corruption stemming from within some of ouer government departments, i wonder if it'll help us
Report Abuse

Aug 27, 2012

Charley4sure

If 90% rape are repeat offenders we are waiting for Zuma to rape again.
Report Abuse

Aug 27, 2012

MommaC

Considering that we have a backlog of about 3 years worth of rape kits sitting at forensics - it wouldn't make that much difference.
Report Abuse

Aug 27, 2012

McKena

Good idea , implement it then
Report Abuse

Sep 6, 2012

skwamasamabele

I've always advocated DNA profiling of all criminals and those taken into custody
Report Abuse

Sep 25, 2012

Warren

Watch this important information being ignored as usual. Sometimes I am left with a sense of doubt if we have the right levels of dedication and will to restore order and protect all the people and not just a few,in our country.

@Momma C
Morning...Misplaced priorities and selective allocation of resources are the cause for such pathetic backlogs.
It would seem like again,its a case of WHO does it affect or who does it not affect.
Note the WHO in the statement. Thats the key word.

Report Abuse

Read all 6 comments