Attention all Forensic Officers

The QPU is aware of the Service’s requirement for all forensic officers to volunteer their DNA for crime scene elimination purposes.

As a consequence of inquiries within the forensic science community, the QPU now holds grave concerns about any police officer either volunteering or being required to provide a DNA sample for elimination purposes under the current regime proposed by the QPS.

The QPU is presently commissioning a review of DNA collection and processing techniques, to formulate a QPU policy on the provision of elimination DNA samples by police officers, including forensic officers.

The QPU also has grave concerns about how the Service intends to use volunteered police DNA, and whether officers’ DNA will be included in the National Database.

Until this review has been finalised, the QPU recommends all forensic officers, and any other police officer who may be effected, to refuse to provide a DNA sample for use on any elimination database.

Where any officer has already volunteered a DNA sample for elimination purposes, the QPU strongly recommends the officer withdraw their consent to the inclusion of their DNA in the elimination database and to the use of their DNA by the Service for any purpose.

To assist officers who have already volunteered their DNA, the QPU requests those officer to fill in the below form and fax it to the QPU on 3259 1950. Once sufficient forms have been collected, the QPU will present them to the Service.

The General President has written to both the Police Commissioner and the Police Minister informing them of the QPU’s views, including its recommendation for all officers to refuse to volunteer their DNA until such time as a formal QPU policy is established.

The QPU will keep officers advised as the review is undertaken.