The AFP has helped resolve 19 missing persons cases since the National DNA Program for Unidentified and Missing Persons started in 2020.
The National Missing Person Coordination Centre (NMPCC) established the AFP-led National DNA Program to work with state and territory police, along with coronial and forensic agencies, to resolve cold cases of unidentified and missing persons.
During the four years of the program's operation, forensic testing was done on 99 unidentified remains - some discovered by law enforcement, some long held by coroners and some provided by members of the public.
Of the 99 unidentified human remains cases, more than 50 of the cases were resolved through either identification or determination that they were older than 100 years.
This included linking 21 unidentified human remains cases to 19 long-term missing persons' cases.* It means 19 families now definitively know their loved one is deceased. Of the 19 long-term missing persons, three were female and 16 were male.
While the outcome can still leave families grieving, the process has finally taken away the uncertainty that can weigh so heavily on loved ones.
Additionally, 33 were determined to be medical anatomical specimens, historical or ancestral remains, or not human remains. As a result, a total of 54 of cases are now closed.
There were unidentified remains from most Australian jurisdictions as well as the Royal Australian Navy.
The National Missing Person Coordination Centre (NMPCC) established the National DNA Program in July 2020 using funds sourced from confiscated proceeds of crime.
The Australian-first initiative initiative enhanced collaboration between the AFP, state and territory police, along with coronial and forensic agencies to resolve cold cases of unidentified and missing persons.
The latest forensic techniques were used to provide the community with answers, including advanced DNA extraction methods and testing, determination of time since death and cause of death (forensic anthropology), dating of bones to estimate the year of birth or death (radiocarbon dating), the digital reconstruction of facial features from skulls (craniofacial reconstruction) and the chemical profiling of human bones to estimate the geographical location and diet of the person (isotype analysis).
Under the program, a unique approach of scientific and policing techniques was applied to investigations. More data was collected, compared and shared to create these matches between unidentified human remains and missing persons.
In mid-2024, the AFP's Forensic Command will consolidate the NMPCC into their Command to complement the advanced techniques that the DNA Program had trialled along with existing Disaster Victim Identification capability.
AFP Commander Forensics Joanne Cameron said the National DNA Program could pave the way forward for a single point of entry for complex or long term-missing persons cases.
"AFP Forensics will continue to support the goals and objectives of the National DNA Program through its existing capabilities and aims to develop enduring new capabilities going forward," Commander Cameron said.
"The AFP looks forward to continuing to work alongside Australian law enforcement and forensic agencies to provide answers to the families of missing persons. AFP Forensics are also exploring ways this new technology can be used to solve violent crime in Australia.
"Our forensics capability is world-leading, and the AFP is dedicated to continuing to support this crucial work, boosting our efforts in advanced DNA techniques, craniofacial reconstruction, forensic artistry and geoprofiling, along with the application of forensic intelligence."
