Sharjah, October 01: A federal DNA database helpful in identifying disaster victims and missing people and in resolving questions of paternity is being considered by a committee of police and forensic experts.
The database would include the personal profiles and DNA information of every citizen and Emirati, adding to an existing database, said Lt.Col Abdullah Al Amri, Director General of Forensic Laboratory at Sharjah Police.
Al Amri and seven other experts from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah, comprising a DNA database group established in 2008, met on Wednesday in Sharjah to discuss ways to improve forensic services in the UAE.
He said a federal database would help in providing proof of identity. A DNA test would also help identify the children of UAE nationals abroad, who could then be granted citizenship.
They also discussed the value of having awareness on the use of DNA among society, police and justice system.
Dr Ali Ibrahim Al Hosani, Executive Director at the Ministry of Justice, said the federal database would be crucial to the effectiveness of the justice system and would speed up court rulings.
Al Hosani said the database could allow the majority of court cases to be judged based on technical reports, including DNA tests.
He said that the unification of databases in the emirates would assist the police in solving crimes: forensic experts had been able to solve old cases through the use of DNA.
Al Amri said that the unification of the system would allow all police officials to exchange experiences in the field of DNA. The team said providing training for law enforcement employees was crucial.
“We also discussed the importance of exchanging experiences between DNA experts in GCC and worldwide,” Al Amri said.
A federal database of biometric data on all citizens and residents is currently being compiled as part of the Emirates Identity Authority card.
A meeting in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, between the identity authority, Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Labour, discussed the unification of procedures in collating the information currently held separately by all three bodies.
–Agencies