“There are isolated examples where the DNA database does … provide for the police what could be referred to as intelligence, information that they can use to direct their investigation,” Walsh said. “But that happens more on an isolated case by case basis not as a result of a system that’s really set up to make it happen.”

However, there are already pressures on the system such as backlogs and heavy work demands on the scientist that would have to be addressed if it was to extend its reach, he said.

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