Europe's top forensic science experts gathered in the Italian capital on Thursday for a conference which will be looking at problems connected to DNA databanks and the use of DNA evidence.
They will also discuss quality standards adopted by forensic laboratories and different analysis methods. Organized by the science and anti-crime section of the Italian State Police, the event is supported by the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes, representing over 50 labs in 31 countries.
The meeting comes as Italy revamps its DNA legislation, in efforts to bring it up to speed with other European nations.
Addressing a parliamentary committee in July, Interior Minister Giuliano Amato stressed the importance of removing obstacles to the creation of a national DNA databank.
"Other countries with DNA databanks have seen a jump in their success at identifying those responsible for crimes, rising in some cases from six percent to 60%," he said.
The minister explained that delays in setting up a database, initially proposed over a year ago, were the result of issues he was seeking to address with the country's privacy watchdog.
He said the difficulties should be resolved by the end of September, after which the government will table a parliamentary bill for its creation.
The push to set up the database is partly the result of Italy's decision last year to sign up to the Treaty of Pruem.
The agreement fosters ways of tackling cross-border crime by allowing for individual DNA profiles to be directly compared to those from computerised databases of other member states, for instance for identification and prosecution purposes.
The 2005 agreement, already signed by seven other states, seeks to boost cross-border cooperation, with a particular focus on fighting terrorism, cross-border crime and illegal immigration.
Although supported by the centre-left, which came to power in April 2006, the treaty was opposed by the previous centre-right government, critical of an obligation requiring signatories to share their DNA databanks with other participating countries.
The new government announced its intention to join the Pruem group last year but Italy's lack of a database until now means it has been unable to meet the contested obligation, therefore preventing it from ratifying the treaty.
