Science, research & statistics
Using science to fight crime
Science and technology are vital tools in the fight against crime. Our policies are directly influenced by advances in science and technology.
Technological advances made by the Home Office Scientific Development Branch (new window) have contributed to the development of:
- more effective methods for detecting fingerprints at crime scenes
- specialist equipment to assist the police in covert surveillance operations
- improved systems to scan for drugs, weapons and explosives
- lighter body armour to protect police officers
The expansion and development of the national DNA database has made a significant contribution in detecting serious crime.
Using forensic science to solve crime
Forensic science (or forensics) is the use of scientific knowledge to investigate and establish facts for legal purposes. Forensics may be used by pathologists to determine cause of death, or by police to match a crime to a criminal.
Forensic science often involves the use Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) technology to investigate crimes and accidents. DNA is the genetic code found in every cell in our bodies. Each person’s DNA is unique and it can therefore be used to help identify people.
DNA derived from samples taken from crime scenes or from individuals held in police custody can be searched against the records held in the national DNA database. This use of DNA technology has made a significant contribution in detecting serious crime, a DNA match on the database can:
- suggest the possible identity of an offender
- help solve ‘cold cases’ – unsolved crimes which occurred years ago
- help catch serious offenders when they are picked up for a minor offence and their DNA is matched to samples already held on the database
- eliminate individuals from suspicion when their DNA does not match with that found at a crime scene
Facts and figures
- In cases when DNA was recovered, the crime detection rate rose from 26% to 40% in 2004/05
- In a typical month suspects are linked to 26 murders, 57 rapes and sexual offences and 3,000 motor vehicle, property and drug crimes. An average of 40,000 Criminal Justice samples and 4,000 crime stain samples are loaded to the database each month
- The annual number of crimes detected where DNA scene-to-suspect links were made quadrupled from 8,612 in 1999/2000 to 35,605 in 2004/05
- The number of DNA suspect-to-scene matches increased by 75% from 23,021 to 40,169 between 1999/2000 and 2004/05
- The government and the police have invested over £300 million in the database
- There are an average of 3,000 database matches each month
- There were over 40,000 database matches in 2004/05
Source: Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO)
Forensic science and the Home Office
We liaise with the Forensic Science Service, Research Councils, and the forensic science and pathology communities. The Forensic pathology unit in the Home Office oversees the provision of forensic pathology services in England and Wales . We publish documents for Forensic pathologists and are currently developing national competencies and standards for pathologists to adhere to.
