Forensic amendment bill to boost fight against crime

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa

"It is increasingly becoming obvious that things cannot be done the same old way. Things must be done smarter and faster.

"We therefore believe that the Criminal Law (Forensic Procedures) Amendment Bill is an important catalyst in helping us in our efforts of crime-reduction," said Mthethwa on Tuesday, 28 May 2013.

Introducing the bill to the Portfolio Committee on Police in Parliament, Mthethwa said although the implementation of the bill would be costly, provision has been made for that.

The bill, Mthethwa said, was crucial as it would help address to a large extent crimes related to bodily integrity, such as murder and rape.

Mthethwa said the use of DNA in solving crime, in particular serious violent crime, was imperative in law enforcement.

Although DNA has been used for many years, there was a dire need for a proper regulatory regime, including adequate control and safety measures in that regard.

"We are aware of the challenges still facing the criminal justice system, thus we are under no illusion that there are quick fix solutions to these challenges.

"We do believe that over the last few years, we have begun to put in place processes that are not only yielding some successes, but will also become the building blocks for the kind of police service we envisage," said Mthethwa.

The legislation allows for the creation of an extensive DNA profiling system, with the aim of strengthening the police service's crime fighting initiatives.

The bill also provides for the expansion of the SAPS's powers to take and retain fingerprints and DNA samples; and further allows for the establishment, administration and use of the DNA database as a criminal intelligence tool.

"Most importantly, the bill will link crime scene samples with samples of suspects. It could furthermore assist in the conducting of prosecutions, identification of unidentified human remains and the identification of missing persons," added Mthethwa.