November 2002 Volume 83 Number 11
"serving the protectors"
| November 2002 Volume 83 Number 11 "serving the protectors" |
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DNA testing
The government has announced its intention to introduce expanded DNA legislation into the South Australian Parliament. This follows intensive lobbying by the Police Association. In Commissioner Hyde’s report to Parliament, he, too, requested stronger DNA legislation to combat crime.
The State Government’s proposed changes to legislation will:
- Allow for the DNA testing of all prisoners (whether jailed before or after the first DNA law was passed in Parliament in 1998).
- Allow police to DNA test anyone suspected on reasonable grounds of committing a serious offence, without having to obtain a magistrate’s court order (which is currently required).
- Allow testing of persons suspected of committing any one of 11 summary offences.
The summary offences that will fall within the DNA testing regime are:
- Illegal use of a motor vehicle.
- Unlawful possession (property).
- Unlawfully on premises.
- Carry an offensive weapon.
- Indecent or offensive material (eg, child pornography).
- Gross indecency.
- Create false belief.
- Assault police.
- Possession/use of firearms.
- Breach of duty to register firearm.
- Possession of a silencer.
It is firm association policy to see all arrested persons DNA-tested at the same time that they are photographed and fingerprinted.
The proposed legislation is a significant improvement on the current legislation and will be an important factor in crime detection and reduction.
The association will continue to lobby for legislation that will best enable SA police officers to solve crime for their communities and, most important, for the victims of crime.
PETER ALEXANDER
PRESIDENT
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