Delay in DNA testing of criminals

Victorian Attorney-General Robert Clark. Photo: Justin McManus

POLICE will have to conduct thousands of DNA tests a year under a state government plan to dramatically increase testing of people convicted of crimes.

However, despite Attorney-General Robert Clark announcing the crackdown - another pillar of the government's tough on law and order campaign - almost two years ago, the new regime will not come into force for at least another year.

''Victoria Police would expect a substantial increase in suspect samples. This will have an impact on caseloads which will be monitored,'' a police spokeswoman said.

In April 2011, Mr Clark said the legislation would allow DNA samples to be taken from anyone convicted of an indictable offence - crimes that attract a jail sentence of two years or more.

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At present DNA samples can only be taken from serious criminals such as murderers and rapists, but this would be expanded to include those convicted of assault, threats to kill, stalking, theft and a wider range of drug offences.

The Attorney-General described the proposed laws as a ''vital element in the high-tech fight against crime''. However, a spokesman for Mr Clark said this week the laws are ''expected to be introduced into Parliament later this year''.

A Victoria Police tender document released late last year reveals that the new laws would mean a four-fold increase in the number of mouth DNA swabs police would have to carry out. It says an average of 7300 swabs were carried out every year for the past five years, of which 1500 were for people suspected of crimes. This means the number of tests will balloon to 6000 a year.

''The status of the amendment is cabinet in confidence so unfortunately Logistical Support Branch is unable to provide further information. What we do know is that if the bill is passed, there will be a 12-month period between passage and implementation,'' the tender document says.

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Delay in DNA testing of criminals