Police Scotland ‘not recording ethnicity correctly' on DNA database

Police Scotland was warned it was not recording DNA ethnicity data correctly amid a row around allegations of institutional racism within the force.
Former Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone said Police Scotland 'is institutionally racist and discriminatory', months before retiring in August 2023.
However the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner, Dr Brian Plastow, called on Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) to review procedures for recording ethnicity when it collects DNA or other biometric data following arrest – and issued a report saying failure to do so correctly was 'concerning'.
Less than 1,000 crimes a year in Scotland are solved using DNA – typically murders, assaults and sex offences – and Police Scotland was told to develop a biometrics strategy including cost, to be approved and in place before October 31.
Biometric data includes DNA and fingerprints, and publicly available information on the UK's National DNA Database allows scrutiny to see if any ethnic group is over-represented – with black citizens accounting for 7.5%, despite being 4% of the UK population according to the 2021/22 census.
The 2022 Scottish census noted that 1.3% of the population is of black heritage – however, no details about ethnicity are recorded on the Scottish DNA Database (SDNAD), which is almost 30 years old, meaning experts were unable to establish if there was over-representation.
A decade after a £6 million investment in world-class DNA technology in the Scottish Crime Campus in Gartcosh, North Lanarkshire, the benefits 'have not been fully realised', and 70% of the profiles are of a lower scientific standard due to a failure to re-test offenders, the report warned.
Properly recording data would support Police Scotland's equality duties and help maintain public confidence, amid allegations of 'institutional racism', supported by Chief Constable Jo Farrell, it was said.
Dr Plastow said: 'SPA Forensic Services and Police Scotland were unable to provide us with any reliable management information on the ethnicity of anyone held within SDNAD as the database is nearly 30 years old and not designed to record this information.
'Failing to properly record and publish data on ethnicity of arrested people whose biometric data is held is concerning, against the context of the former and current chief constables having stated that institutional racism persists.
'We have been unable to establish whether there is over-representation on grounds of ethnicity or any protected characteristic.'
As an alternative, Police Scotland were asked to provide ethnicity data from its National Custody System, for arrests from 2023 to 2024 where DNA was taken. However, this mandatory information was 'incomplete' and 'unreliable', Dr Plastow said.
He added: 'The data extract obtained by Police Scotland was incomplete and so heavily caveated to render it unreliable.'
Seven recommendations were made after a joint review with the SPA and the Leverhulme Institute of Forensic Science, on the acquisition, retention, use and destruction of DNA.
Dr Plastow said: 'DNA provided a potential investigative lead in only 0.34% of recorded crime in Scotland in 2023 to 2024, but those investigative leads can be spectacular.'
The report highlighted that where a criminal has been re-arrested, no fresh DNA sample is routinely taken if a lower standard DNA profile was recorded predating 2014 – despite investment that year which gave Police Scotland access to the most advanced DNA analysis facilities available internationally.
In 2014, after the establishment of Police Scotland and the SPA, the Scottish Government spent £6 million on the new DNA testing facility, but a decision not to re-test samples predating 2014, means less than a third of offenders' profiles are currently of the newer DNA24 standard, it was warned.
Dr Plastow said: 'When the new facility opened there were more than 250,000 samples A decision was taken on the grounds of cost and laboratory capacity not to do any bulk back record conversion, as it would have cost more than £10 million.
'More than 10 years after the introduction of DNA24, 69.9% of profiles held are still of a lower scientific standard.'
Police Scotland was urged to review its DNA Confirmed policy to increase DNA24 profiles, for more effective investigations, and to develop a biometrics strategy including capital expenditure before October 31.
Dr Plastow said: 'Holding DNA24 profiles would lead to more effective and efficient investigations and eliminate innocent suspects more quickly.
'Without such a plan, there is no clear vision of what Police Scotland hopes to achieve with DNA, fingerprints, facial images, or other biometric enabled technologies including retrospective facial search.'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Daily Record

3 hours ago

• Daily Record

Almost 500 Police Scotland officers and staff currently on long-term sick leave

The figures released under Freedom of Information come at a time of increasing violence towards officers. Almost 500 police officers and civilian support staff are currently on long-term sick leave, according to a new report. The figures released under Freedom of Information come at a time of increasing violence towards officers and claims of plummeting morale and mounting workloads leading to stress and other mental health problems. ‌ The Police Scotland report shows 340 cops and 143 office workers on long-term sick. Three cops have been off for more than three years. A further 16 have been absent for between two and three years and 48 absent for between one year and two years. ‌ The largest number – 151 cops and 54 civilian staff – have been off sick for between four months and a year. David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, representing the rank-and-file, said members are at breaking point. 'We have been warning about this for a while. The numbers going off sick are only going to get worse. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. 'The police service has got to do more to get them back to work. There's also no investment from the Scottish Government – they are not interested.' Kennedy added: 'People are tired of their conditions. They are done in. They have had enough. Assaults are going through the roof.' ‌ Last June, Police Scotland numbers dropped to 16,207, the lowest since records began in 2007. In 2023-24, 12,141 officers took sick leave – about 75 per cent of the force strength. Earlier this month it was revealed police are being assaulted on an almost hourly basis, with 7159 attacks last year – 425 more than in 2023. Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur added: 'The pressure-cooker conditions facing police officers are pushing too many to the brink. It's a vicious cycle because it stretches the officers who remain dangerously thin, making them more likely to leave as well.' Police Scotland said: 'We have a range of mechanisms in place to support our employees who are absent from work.' The Scottish Government said: 'Our continued investment has enabled Police Scotland to take on more recruits in the last financial year than at any time since 2013.'

Scottish Sun

9 hours ago

• Scottish Sun

Scotland's dog fouling law slammed by critics as prosecution stats revealed

Statistics have sparked fears low-level crime is being ignored in Scotland Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DOG-fouling laws have been described as 'all bark, no bite' after a big drop in prosecutions. The collapse has fuelled fears low-level crime is being ignored in Scotland. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Dog-fouling laws were described as 'all bark, no bite' after a drop in prosecutions Credit: Alamy Latest figures show only one person was nabbed by cops or other agencies in 2021-22 under the Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003. That compares to a high of 86 taken to court in 2013/14 for failing to pick up their pet's poo on streets, parks, paths and footie pitches. Lib Dem MSP Jamie Greene, who uncovered the stats, said they were the result of years of underfunding for councils. He hit out: 'Ever since the SNP started slashing budgets, local authorities have been dogged by a poo problem. 'Figures show there are now barely any prosecutions. This will encourage bad owners because they show the law is all bark, no bite. The Scottish Government needs to ensure police and councils are properly resourced to tackle this.' Under the law, culprits can be hit with fines of up to £100. Data also reveals a big drop in anti-social behaviour crimes recorded by cops. Offences plummeted by 46 per cent in the last decade from 320,000 to fewer than 175,000. The largest drop was for enforcing anti-urinating laws, with 11,216 crimes in 2014/15 and 759 in 2023/24. Police Scotland has been accused of abandoning low-level crime due to a lack of officers. In March last year, the force confirmed it won't investigate some cases where there's no CCTV, witnesses, or other obvious leads. Driver opens stranger's car door to stop an emergency & faces charges – she broke little-known law to save a life A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'We have invested a record £1.64billion in policing this year and provided councils with a record £15billion."

Scottish Sun

9 hours ago

• Scottish Sun

Car sinks into loch at popular Scots country park as man charged

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAN has been charged after a small car rolled into a loch and sank. Visitors to Strathclyde Country Park in Motherwell were stunned when they spotted the motor drifting in the water yesterday. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 A man has been charged after a car sank in the loch at Strathclyde Park Credit: Supplied 2 Onlookers were left amazed as the small hatchback slowly disappeared from view Credit: Supplied Day trippers gathered round in amazement as the motor slowly submerged below the waterline. In footage, one onlooker can be heard joking: "Excuse me, you can't park there." A small boat was spotted making its way towards the car as it began to sink. It is not clear exactly how the hatchback ended up in the loch. Cops rushed to banks of Strathclyde Loch around 7.20pm after the alarm was raised. Firecrews were also dispatched to the scene. The vehicle was later recovered and fortunately nobody was hurt. But officers have charged a man over an alleged road traffic offence. A Police Scotland spokesperson told the Daily Record: 'We were made aware of a car that had rolled into the water at Strathclyde Loch around 7.20pm on Saturday, June 21, 2025. 'Emergency services attended, the vehicle was recovered, and no one was injured. Hundreds march to remember Rangers-daft teen as parents call for end to violence "One man was charged in connection with a road traffic offence.' The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has been contacted for comment.