14 February 2019
The number of DNA profile records held in the UK's National DNA Database (NDNAD) increased by over 172,000 in the year up to March 2018, the biggest annual increase since over a million records were deleted from the system following the entry into force of the Protection of Freedoms Act.
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As of March 2018 the NDNAD contained 6,196,278 subject profile records (which are derived from individual DNA samples), an increase of 2.86% on the total at March 2017.
This follows an increase of 2.79% between March 2016 and March 2017 and increases in the two preceding years of 1.63% (to March 2016) and 0.88% (to March 2015).
The number of subject profile records is higher than the number of individuals who have their data held in the database, because "some individuals have more than one profile on NDNAD. This can occur where the force choose to load another record or where they are sampled twice under different names," says the latest annual report of the National DNA Database Strategy Board.
The process of deleting DNA profiles and other biometric data held by UK police forces was outlined in detail in the 2012-13 report on the NDNAD:
"In January [2013] DNA profiles (the string of 20 numbers derived from the DNA sample) began to be deleted from the National DNA Database. Almost two million DNA profiles needed to be deleted, so deletion was undertaken in phases, starting with profiles that were easier to identify and belonging to individuals who had the most limited contact with the police."
The UK NDNAD was established in 1995. The tables below show the figures for subject profile records and individuals over the last decade.
Subject profile records in the National DNA Database, 2009-18
March 2018 | 6,196,278 | +172,246 (+2.86%)
March 2017 | 6,024,032 | +163,390 (+2.79%)
March 2016 | 5,860,642 | +94,273 (+1.63%)
March 2015 | 5,766,369 | +50,284 (+0.88%)
March 2014 | 5,716,085 | -1,018,888 (-15.17%)
March 2013 | 6,737,973 | -231,423 (-3.32%)
March 2012 | 6,969,396 | +374,101 (+5.67%)
March 2011 | 6,595,295 | +459,305 (+7.49%)
March 2010 | 6,135,990 | +518,386 (+9.28%)
March 2009 | 5,617,604
Individuals recorded in the National DNA Database, 2009-18
March 2018 | 5,374,062 | +115,462 (+2.20%)
March 2017 | 5,258,600 | +102,332 (+1.98%)
March 2016 | 5,156,268 | +128,038 (+2.55%)
March 2015 | 5,028,230 | +121,794 (+2.48%)
March 2014 | 4,906,436 | -1,047,374 (-17.59%)
March 2013 | 5,953,810 | +3,198 (+0.05%)
March 2012 | 5,950,612 | +305,932 (+5.42%)
March 2011 | 5,644,680 | +370,680 (+7.09%)
March 2010 | 5,274,000 | +414,066 (+8.52%)
March 2009 | 4,859,934
Sources
National DNA Database Strategy Board Annual Report 2017/18 (pdf)
National DNA Database reports (gov.uk, link)
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