DNA database: top 10 forces
Updated on 29 October 2008
The 10 police forces that added the most DNA samples to the national database.
Police forces often hold more than one DNA sample for one individual. This is referred to as "replication".
Replication factors in this top 10 have been calculated on National Policing Improvement Agency estimates that 4,631,838 individuals are on the database, from a total of 5,316,862 DNA samples.
DNA database: interactive map
A force-by-force breakdown of the data. Click here to see how your area is affected.
This means that every 10 samples are estimated to relate to 8.2 different individuals.
Below are the 10 police forces which have added the most DNA samples as a proportion of their resident populations.
Northumbria
- Number of DNA samples added to database: 174,871
- Population: 1.4m
- It holds the equivalent of one sample per every 8 people living in its area
- Taking into account replication factors, it holds the equivalent of one individual's sample for every 9.7 people living in its area
West Midlands
- Number of DNA samples added to database: 306,338
- Population: 2.6m
- It holds the equivalent of one sample per every 8.4 people living in its area
- Taking into account replication factors, it holds the equivalent of one individual's sample for every 10.3 people living in its area
Metropolitan Police
- Number of DNA samples added to database: 853,766
- Population: 7.2m
- It holds the equivalent of one sample per every 8.4 people living in its area
- Taking into account replication factors, it holds the equivalent of one individual's sample for every 10.3 people living in its area
Dyfed-Powys
- Number of DNA samples added to database: 51,465
- Population: 488,000
- It holds the equivalent of one sample per every 9.5 people living in its area
- Taking into account replication factors, it holds the equivalent of one individual's sample for every 11.5 people living in its area
Great Manchester
- Number of DNA samples added to database: 257,909
- Population: 2.5m
- It holds the equivalent of one sample per every 9.6 people living in its area
- Taking into account replication factors, it holds the equivalent of one individual's sample for every 11.8 people living in its area
Nottinghamshire
- Number of DNA samples added to database: 103,773
- Population: 1,034,700
- It holds the equivalent of one sample per every 9.9 people living in its area
- Taking into account replication factors, it holds the equivalent of one individual's sample for every 12.1 people living in its area
Cleveland
- Number of DNA samples added to database: 54,346
- Population: 553,100
- It holds the equivalent of one sample per every 10.1 people living in its area
- Taking into account replication factors, it holds the equivalent of one individual's sample for every 12.4 people living in its area
Cumbria
- Number of DNA samples added to database: 48,329
- Population: 491,975
- It holds the equivalent of one sample per every 10.1 people living in its area
- Taking into account replication factors, it holds the equivalent of one individual's sample for every 12.4 people living in its area
Lancashire
- Number of DNA samples added to database: 149,662
- Population: 1.5m
- It holds the equivalent of one sample per every 10 people living in its area
- Taking into account replication factors, it holds the equivalent of one individual's sample for every 12.2 people living in its area
South Wales
- Number of DNA samples added to database: 122,265
- Population: 1,225,900
- It holds the equivalent of one sample per every 10 people living in its area
- Taking into account replication factors, it holds the equivalent of one individual's sample for every 12.2 people living in its area
