A familial DNA collection program being undertaken to assist NSW Police detectives with investigations into historic missing persons cases will continue on the state’s south next week.
Last month, pop-up collection centres were established in Bourke, Broken Hill, and Dubbo, where family members of missing persons provided DNA samples for comparison against profiles of all unidentified bodies and human remains on hand in NSW.
The samples are taken via buccal swab and are only compared against missing persons databases in Australia, NSW Police said in a statement.
Further centres will be established at Albury, Griffith, Wagga Wagga, and Queanbeyan, from Monday, before the program visits a number of locations in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong next month.
Missing Persons Registry Commander, Detective Inspector Glen Browne, said strong turnouts at collection centres in Nowra and Merimbula in 2021 were encouraging, and urged further people to come forward.
“I can’t stress enough how important sample numbers are with respect to the success of this program, so it’s crucial we see as many family members of missing persons come forward to assist ongoing investigations,” Det Insp Browne said.
Location details are:
Monday 11 July 2022
10.00am – 3.00pm
Church building (next to Albury Police Station)
539-543 Olive Street, Albury NSW 2640
Tuesday 12 July 2022
12.00pm – 3.00pm
Griffith Library
229 Banna Avenue, Griffith NSW 2680
Thursday 14 July 2022
09.00am – 3.00pm
Senior Citizen Centre
204-210 Tarcutta Street, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650
Friday 15 July 2022
11.00am – 4.00pm
AXIS Youth Centre
Corner of Campbell and Park Streets, Queanbeyan NSW 2620.
