Amateur detectives (in fiction) usually are depicted as working outside the system, and often 'rile' or at least annoy the police and the paid detectives. They are often seen as interfering with the investigation. Sometimes there is an official detective or police person who pays attention to these amateurs (after they've established a record of success), but usually they're seen as bucking the system. They sneak in where they're told not to go, etc. I'm not saying it's the law in all countries, but I do think free access to DNA information pertinent to a crime is fact you can't take for granted either way. I can't imagine a fair system where DNA evidence in a crime is handed out to whoever asks for it, off the record! But maybe I'm behind the 8-ball here.
