Executive Director of The DNA Project, Vanessa Lynch, writes on the DNA blog; “I have just returned from a two day trip to Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape where, in collaboration with Business Against Crime (Eastern Cape), The DNA Project launched its DNA and Crime Scene Awareness campaign into that region. Thanks to BAC (E.C.), Protea Marine Hotel and Berco Express (PE) for their collective contributions and assistance which ensured that this event took place, that all training material was at hand and that we had a wonderful venue to host the DNA Awareness workshops and myself in Port Elizabeth.
“The uptake and enthusiasm of the E.C. community to promote crime scene awareness in their area was phenomenal. This is a pro-active community where even 18 year old girls are willing to patrol their communities to keep criminals off the streets and out of their houses.”
DNA profiling has replaced fingerprinting as the forensic tool of choice to be used by investigators to link suspects to a crime scene. It is highly effective as DNA can be found in any cell in the body. This means that evidence can be collected from biological material left at a crime scene such as hair, semen, saliva, sweat, blood and skin cells.
The DNA Project’s Awareness Campaign aims to provide key sectors of the South African public with a basic understanding of how DNA profiling is being used to assist in criminal investigations in South Africa and the importance of preserving valuable DNA evidence found at a crime scene.
As part of this drive the DNA Project, a registered NPO, conducts workshops across the country aimed at providing key sectors of the South African public with a basic understanding of how DNA profiling is being used to assist in criminal investigations in South Africa and the importance of preserving valuable DNA evidence found at a crime scene.
Sydenham Crime Prevention Forum leader, Lee Ah Kun, was recently appointed as a DNA Project Trainer to represent the Eastern Cape Region and took part in the workshop.
Additional Reading: Raped again – by the system in which Chris Aplen examines this statement; “The most important factor influencing the potential effect of DNA in any criminal justice system is what the law allows you to do with it.” in which our politicians come in for some spanking.
