Police are appealing for members of the public to help them establish baseline DNA data, and earn $40, now that they are taking DNA from anyone arrested for a recordable offence.

As of last Monday anyone arrested for an offence which would see them incarcerated if convicted has given a sample of their DNA to Police. It is hoped that this will help crack cold cases and boost detection rates in new crimes.

DNA profiling has been used in the past for serious crimes, such as murder cases. However, the Police were only given power last September, under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, to take samples from every person arrested for a "recordable offence" one for which they could receive a jail sentence.

Yesterday, the Bermuda Police Service in conjunction with the Department of Health appealed for residents over the age of 18 to anonymously provide their DNA to help establish Bermuda Population data to support the future use of DNA in Bermuda.

Superintendent Paul Wright said: "We are seeking 400 volunteers to anonymously provide their DNA to help establish baseline population data. All volunteers will be paid $40 for their sample. They can elect to keep the cash or to donate it to charity. Their names will not be recorded or associated with their samples and once the population data calculations have been done the samples will all be destroyed."

The sample will be used to establish the frequency of DNA strands in Bermuda so that calculations can be made regarding the probability of matching new DNA specimens against a Bermuda specific population profile. This will allow for statements to be made in court cases such as: "The chance of a random person living in Bermuda having this DNA profile is…"

Previously Bermuda has made those statements based on data from the US — something that has prompted defence lawyers to question the accuracy of the DNA test during trial.

Volunteers must be a resident of Bermuda over 18, willing to declare their race and not closely related to others who have submitted a sample.

The Police have stressed that the samples will not be kept on file and will be destroyed.

Supt. Wright said: "The samples are given completely anonymously. The use of DNA is a 21st Century science that is widely used throughout the world and we are calling on Bermuda to help establish it here."

Volunteers can provide their samples between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. today at Police Mobile Command Vehicle which will be parked on the Church Street side of the City Hall car park.

It will return tomorrow, until 6 p.m., if they have not met their target of 400 and again on Friday.