Number of hits

The Institute of Forensic Science at the University of Zurich compares the DNA profiles with the Swiss DNA database and analyses the results on behalf of the federal government. The evaluation results are then sent by this DNA co-ordination office via a secure data line to fedpol’s AFIS DNA Services division, which is the operator of the DNA database. The AFIS DNA Services division then supplements the pseudonymised results with the corresponding personal and case data and subsequently transmits the full report to the client.

If a personal profile matches traces from the scene of a crime it is known as a “hit”. DNA hits play an important role in investigating many types of offences. In relation to the total number of registered cases, there was a considerably higher number of DNA hits connected to serious offences such as homicide or robbery, as opposed to offences such as theft or damage to property.

In 2011, CODIS turned up 4'318 hits, distributed over the following categories of offences:

There were also 986 hits in which traces corresponded. Such hits provide valuable information on correlating offences.