Bermuda courts are set to start using locally gathered DNA statistics, according to the Attorney General.

Sen. Kim Wilson told the Senate on Wednesday that Bermuda's DNA database was now complete and the doctor who created it recommended that it be used instead of DNA statistics from the FBI, which examines the chances of a DNA sample belonging to someone other than the accused.

Dr. Bruce Weir, professor and chairman of the Department of Biostatistics at the University of Washington, completed the report on January 4 and said the database was ready to be used.

In the past, DNA statistics for court cases were taken from the FBI's database because Bermuda did not have its own "general population" database for the purpose of calculating match frequencies, however, Dr. Weir analysed 235 black and 222 white profiles.

Sen. Wilson said: "The Bermuda Police Service have collected samples of people living in Bermuda and have had forensic DNA profiles for these people generated by Trinity DNA Solutions of Milton, Florida. These voluntary and anonymous samples were taken in Bermuda seven months ago.

"The resulting DNA profiles are to be used for forensic calculation in Bermuda. Until now, such calculations have been performed by Trinity DNA solutions on the basis of data published by the United States FBI. Historically, Bermuda's has relied upon comparison data generated by the FBI when submitting evidential DNA match profiling."

The Attorney General said Dr. Weir was given Excel spreadsheets of the DNA profiles and analysed it with the FBI data.

It was to show the changes in the "numerical strength" of DNA evidence that might be expected once Bermuda data is used instead of FBI data.

"Dr. Weir considered that the set of DNA profiles generated by Trinity DNA Solutions for the samples collected by the Bermuda Police Service may be used for forensic calculations in Bermuda. He expects that the results will be very similar to those that might be obtained with published FBA data," she added.

Sen. Wilson said the report will soon be published in the US Forensic Journal and will also be available on the Ministry of Justice's website.

"This is a major achievement in forensic evidence for Bermuda prompted by the implementation of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 2006. I am confident that this advancement in forensic evidence will significantly enhance and benefit Bermuda's criminal justice system."