DNA probe over unsolved murders

The UK's DNA database was the first

Dozens of unsolved murders and rapes are to be re-investigated after new DNA technology revealed 33 prime suspects, the BBC has learned.

Police in England and Wales reopened their inquiries after scientists examined samples taken from crime scenes dating back to the early 1990s.

From 213 samples, they extracted 76 DNA profiles which matched 33 people in the national DNA database.

A Home Office spokeswoman said no statement would be made until Sunday.

Convicts' profiles

Senior Forensic Scientist Peter Lamb of the Forensic Science Service at Huntingdon told the BBC: "The most serious offences' samples were kept in deep freezers because we thought that the technology might improve to the stage where we would be able to do something with it eventually.

"The names have now been given to the police and the police will now progress their enquiries".

The UK database, set up in 1995 by the Forensic Science Service (FSS), was the world's first national DNA database.

The database currently has 2.2 million DNA profiles, taken from people suspected of, charged with, reported for or convicted of a recordable offence.

It also has 225,000 samples from crime scenes.

BBC correspondent Richard Lister said science was proving to be an "increasingly reliable witness".

Each week, about three murder suspects and 15 suspected rapists were identified simply by their genetic material, he added.

Fewer cells

Alan Matthews, also of the FFS, told the BBC: "Instead of looking previously for amounts of blood, perhaps the size of a coin, to even begin to start looking for DNA, we're now looking at microscopic amounts which amount to a few cells.

"So we can now obtain DNA profile from those few cells rather than the much larger quantity previously required."

We have to be very, very careful about how we approach people and give, what to them, is extremely important news Dame Helen Reeves Victim Support

But Victim Support has warned that reopening old cases could be traumatic for victims and their families.

Chief executive of the charity, Dame Helen Reeves, told the BBC: "Some people will have moved on. For example, in the case of sexual offences people might have new families who may not know anything about it.

"We have to be very, very careful about how we approach people and give, what to them, is extremely important news."