The measures will stop officers from accidentally being considered as potential suspects Liam McBurney/PAAll new PSNI officers will have to join a DNA database to avoid them being accidentally identified as suspects. Serving members who attend crime scenes, searches or deal with seized items have also been asked to give samples of hair or saliva for an “elimination” list protecting them in case traces of their DNA are picked up as evidence. The measure is designed to protect officers from having their details loaded on the system as an unresolved crime scene profile. The samples will be kept separately from the database used to solve crime and destroyed once the officer leaves policing. “Police officers’ DNA elimination profiles will be held during the full time of police service and for 12 months after a police officer leaves the…

Source: The Times October 08, 2017 23:03 UTC