Commissioner Backs DNA Law Reform

Police Commissioner Chester Williams has hailed the government’s new push for science-based policing as a transformative step forward, calling proposed DNA legislation and ongoing forensic advancements “a game changer” for law enforcement and justice in Belize.

The remarks follow the presentation of a draft DNA bill created by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The proposed legislation aims to make cases involving DNA evidence clearer and more efficient by establishing rules for the collection, storage, and use of such evidence in criminal cases. It would also allow the courts to determine when DNA samples must be taken from suspects, especially in cases where consent is not given.

“You know, this sort of move is being made. Certainly, it’s something that is urgently needed,” said Commissioner Williams. “We have been in dialogue for this for quite some time, even before I became Commissioner of Police. And I am happy to see that we now have a minister who did not only talk about it, but did his best to ensure that it happens.”

Executive Director of the National Forensic Science Service, Gian Cho, who has been working closely with the UNDP to enhance forensic capabilities, including a new digital evidence management system introduced in 2024, explained during the legislative review that the DNA database would be governed by strict regulations in line with international standards, including protections for individual rights and oversight mechanisms. DNA collection, particularly in cases involving minors or non-consenting individuals, would require a court order.

The DNA legislation and broader forensic reforms are part of the pH Justice project, a $3 million UNDP and European Union initiative aimed at modernising Belize’s justice system. Once stakeholders finalise the draft bill, it will go before Cabinet and eventually the National Assembly for approval.