Wright guilty of murders

Wright was convicted last week of murdering five Ipswich women over a 10-day period in December 2006.

At Prime Minister's question time, Mr Brown praised the police for their "professionalism and dedication" in bringing Wright to justice.

Ipswich's Labour MP Chris Mole condemned the "foul murders".

Mr Brown said: "Our country is very proud of the professionalism and dedication that the police and all the prosecuting authorities show."

He added: "The DNA database produced matches that allowed for us to be able to prosecute in the case of 452 homicides, 644 rapes, 222 other sex offences and 1,800 other violent crimes all in the past year.

"I think that shows that we are in a position to make best use of the DNA database to catch those people who otherwise may go free.

"I hope other parties will reconsider their opposition to the 2003 Act which extended the DNA database to the benefit of successful prosecutions."

Mr Brown said the case showed the importance of the national DNA database, which had led to the prosecution of 452 killers.

Wright was told he would spend the rest of his life in jail.