Forensic Services

PACE Overview

Cellmark has been accredited to submit profiles to the National DNA Database since 1998. Mouth swabs or plucked hairs taken under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) are processed in Cellmark’s state-of-the-Art laboratory facility in Oxfordshire where extensive investment in automation and laboratory robotics delivers a rapid and efficient service for our police customers.

The quality of our work is supported by our continuing investment in new laboratory facilities. A new PACE laboratory was opened in 2004; a new crime stain laboratory opened in 2005; and a new major crime laboratory commenced oerations in August 2006.

Cellmark processes volunteer samples and other reference material for use in casework and also processes samples for inclusion on the Police Elimination Database.

Cellmark’s PACE service is accredited to international quality standards ISO9001 and ISO17025. Cellmark is also accredited by the custodian of the National DNA Database (NDNAD) to submit samples to the custodian for loading to the NDNAD.

>morePACE samples are mouth swabs taken under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994) from suspects who have been arrested for a "recordable" offence. DNA profiles generated from these samples are added to the UK National DNA Database (Link to NDNAD report).

NDNAD

During 2007 the number of DNA profiles held on the database exceeded 4 million.

Mass Screenings

An effective and rapid method of eliminating large numbers of people from an enquiry which may also identify a potential suspect.


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