UAE | Crime
DNA evidence helps fight crime in UAE
The UAE's criminal database has 13,000 to 15,000 DNA profiles collected from crime scenes, a senior police official has revealed.
- By Rayeesa Absal, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:46 October 26, 2008
- rapid and absolute elimination of innocent suspects;
- rapid identification of offenders with high degree of certainty;
- reliability of evidence produced in court;
- better administration of justice;
- increased public confidence in the criminal justice system;
- a deterrent effect on offenders with a concomitant decrease in crime;
- cost-effectiveness in terms of investigation time saved.
Abu Dhabi: The UAE's criminal database has 13,000 to 15,000 DNA profiles collected from crime scenes, a senior police official has revealed.
Speaking to Gulf News, Dr Ahmad Al Marzooqi, Head of the Forensic Biology and DNA Section at Abu Dhabi Police, said: "The UAE has around 13,000 DNA profiles of criminals collected from crime scenes. Whenever, a serious crime is committed, that goes beyond the boundaries of the country, this profile is sent out to other countries involved to help identify the criminals and nab them."
It was DNA evidence obtained from the scene that led to the arrest of the criminals behind the infamous Wafi mall heist in Dubai, which is possibly the UAE's biggest success story on the use of DNA profiles of criminals.
Explaining the importance of the database, Al Marzooqi said: "DNA profiling is an important tool to bring internationally wanted criminals to the book."
"In the UAE, there are not a very high number of unsolved crimes and large number of the crimes where DNA samples come to use here are in sexual crimes and assaults," he noted. "600 to 700 cases come to us annually for DNA testing."
He was speaking at the sidelines of the Interpol's DNA monitoring experts group (MEG) biannual meeting, which is being hosted in UAE for the first time by the Interior Ministry.
Also a member of Interpol's DNA MEG, Al Marzooqi said that of the Interpol's 187 member nations, 45 have DNA databases.
Stressing the importance of countries establishing DNA profile databases, he remarked, "Serious crimes could be better dealt with if more nations have similar databases".
Border security
Giving an example, he said, if a person came in to the country as a visitor, committed a crime and went back then we could send the DNA samples to the other country and get hands-on information about the person. But this is only possible if the other country also has a database, he explained.
"Infiltration and better security at the borders can also be achieved with such a database."
Members of the DNA MEG discussed latest developments in DNA profiling and worked towards compiling the second edition of Interpol Handbook on DNA Data Exchange and Practice.
"The MEG acts as an advisory board and provides expert guidance and direction for the Interpol DNA policies and projects. Its members consist of over a dozen forensic science experts and law enforcement and are drawn from member states across the five Interpol regions," reads the Interpol website.
14 experts from various countries took part in the meeting. It will conclude today, after which a two-day symposium follows.
DNA profiling
DNA profiling is a technique employed by forensic scientists which begins when a minute sample of one person's genetic material - DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) - is taken from human tissue and ends when the sample is given a computerised numeric value in the form of a 'bar code'.
Comparing a person's DNA profile with a DNA sample retrieved from the scene of a crime can eliminate innocent people from investigations, but can also provide a strong indication of guilt.
The benefits:
Source: Interpol
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