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London – Police forces across the UK are testing technology that allows officers to analyse DNA samples in custody suites, amid fears that civil liberties could be infringed and evidence compromised.

RapidHIT machines remove the need for forensic science expertise, with police officers operating the machinery after a two-week training course. Developed in the US by IntegenX, the technology is being marketed in the UK by Key Forensic Services Ltd.

Patrick Carroll, senior director of international sales at IntegenX, told The Independent he expected to see the technology used in all major UK custody suites in the near future. Although data is currently double-checked by a forensics expert, he said he believed officers could soon input information directly into the national database.

“What we want is the data from this to go directly into the national database, so that you skip that step of having to have a forensic lab,” he said.

However, civil liberties groups and lawyers yesterday raised a number of concerns.

Emma Carr, director of Big Brother Watch, called for robust and proper public consultation before its use...