Gov’t fails to produce DNA database
21/11/2009

A database created two years ago for the purpose of registering condemned criminals’ DNA profiles is as yet completely unused and still awaiting its first entry.

Following the database’s introduction, the Government announced it expected more than 6,000 profiles to have been entered by the end of this year. That number corresponds to the number of prisoners currently serving sentences of over three years and for whom the law allows DNA data to be kept.

Until now only 23 DNA requests have been submitted and are still being analysed by the National Institute of Legal Medicine (INML), which is responsible for the database.

Of these, five are from identified corpses the rest relate to criminals convicted of murder, sexual offences and violent robberies.

Portugal was the last country within Europe to create a DNA database. It was announced by the Government with pomp and circumstance and highlighted as an important tool for fighting crime as it allows the identification of criminals or proof of their innocence.

Nevertheless, so far the database remains empty. Portuguese judges and PJ police officials have criticized the Government, claiming that the laws surrounding the DNA database and the gathering of data are ‘too restrictive’ and need revision.

Police experts say the procedures for requesting and compiling data need simplifying and consider them as being amongst the most restrictive in Europe. For this reason they believe the Government, as well as the database, have failed in their purpose.

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