By Luke Voogt
A recent boost in DNA powers could help Geelong police crack unsolved cases, according to the city’s top cop.
Geelong Superintendent Craig Gillard welcomed legislation before parliament allowing police to take DNA samples from adult suspects in indictable offences without court approval.
“It will certainly be a positive tool for investigators,” he said.
“We anticipate that there will be some unsolved matters that will now likely be solved in the future.”
State Government last week introduced the bill, which also allows police to take DNA from suspects aged 15 to 17 in serious violent crimes including sexual assault and murder.
Supt Gillard declined to estimate how many cases the new legislation would help solve.
“We cannot possibly predict which cases it would solve as we don’t know if any future DNA will match those we have on hand from crime scenes,” he said.
“I am not prepared to discuss the specific unsolved matters that we have DNA from – that could potentially be detrimental to any investigation.”
Currently Victoria Police holds more than 55,000 crime scene DNA samples not matching anybody’s profile.
Victoria Police’s Forensic Services Department estimated that within the first year of the legislation DNA samples in their database would increase substantially.
The bill, which parliament debates next week, would help police solve thousands of crimes, according to Police Minister Lisa Neville.
“These new powers will help to solve thousands of unsolved crimes that could be explained with new DNA evidence that will be collected,” she said.
“By giving police these DNA powers they’ll be able to quickly and effectively identify and prosecute high-harm offenders, reducing harm and clamping down on recidivist offenders.”
The bill will also create new offenses and penalties for assaulting and intimidating police and protective services officers (PSO) if it passes parliament.
These include a 10-year sentence for intentionally or recklessly assaulting an officer or PSO with a weapon or 15 years for the same offense with a firearm.
“These new police harm offences send the strongest possible message about protecting law enforcement officers from harm and threats,” Ms Neville said.
