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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Head to head: DNA Database | Head to head: DNA Database |
| (about 21 hours later) | |
| The Home Office has announced that the DNA of most innocent people arrested in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will not be kept for more than six years. | The Home Office has announced that the DNA of most innocent people arrested in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will not be kept for more than six years. |
| We asked two people who were arrested and later freed without charge, and who have their DNA profiles stored on the police database as a result, to give us their views. Should police keep their DNA fingerprints? YES - Keep my DNA on file (Sam West) NO - Being on the database makes me a suspect (David Sweeney) | We asked two people who were arrested and later freed without charge, and who have their DNA profiles stored on the police database as a result, to give us their views. Should police keep their DNA fingerprints? YES - Keep my DNA on file (Sam West) NO - Being on the database makes me a suspect (David Sweeney) |
| YES - SAM WEST, 22, TUNBRIDGE WELLS | YES - SAM WEST, 22, TUNBRIDGE WELLS |
| Sam West is happy his DNA profile is stored, even though he is innocent | Sam West is happy his DNA profile is stored, even though he is innocent |
| Last year I was accused of assaulting a bouncer at a casino in Newcastle. | Last year I was accused of assaulting a bouncer at a casino in Newcastle. |
| I hadn't done it, but I spent a night in a cell until the CCTV footage was available to prove that I hadn't. | I hadn't done it, but I spent a night in a cell until the CCTV footage was available to prove that I hadn't. |
| Obviously I had my DNA sampled, they took a cheek swab from me. I didn't really mind at the time. | Obviously I had my DNA sampled, they took a cheek swab from me. I didn't really mind at the time. |
| And I have no problem with them keeping my DNA profile indefinitely. | And I have no problem with them keeping my DNA profile indefinitely. |
| I would have thought that the only people worried about this happening are those who think that they may be likely to commit a crime in the future. | |
| I appreciate there is a case for "innocent until proven guilty". But if you're innocent - why worry? | I appreciate there is a case for "innocent until proven guilty". But if you're innocent - why worry? |
| I'm not bothered about my DNA helping eliminate people and to narrow down suspects Sam West, Tunbridge Wells How long should DNA be kept? Read the main story here | I'm not bothered about my DNA helping eliminate people and to narrow down suspects Sam West, Tunbridge Wells How long should DNA be kept? Read the main story here |
| And how is it a human right to be less detectable in a criminal investigation? | And how is it a human right to be less detectable in a criminal investigation? |
| I suppose people worry that their records could be used as a scapegoat. | I suppose people worry that their records could be used as a scapegoat. |
| But I don't really mind at all. I'm not bothered about my DNA helping eliminate people and to narrow down suspects - people who might have committed a crime. | But I don't really mind at all. I'm not bothered about my DNA helping eliminate people and to narrow down suspects - people who might have committed a crime. |
| I remember reading about a rapist who was caught because he'd been stealing some months previously and his DNA profile matched. | I remember reading about a rapist who was caught because he'd been stealing some months previously and his DNA profile matched. |
| Would I favour a nationwide database? I guess it could be a fairer way of doing it. I don't have such a problem with it. | Would I favour a nationwide database? I guess it could be a fairer way of doing it. I don't have such a problem with it. |
| But I can see how some people would be against it - as a kind of Big Brother thing. | But I can see how some people would be against it - as a kind of Big Brother thing. |
| As for capping the limit at six years, I'm not sure why? All it means is there are now fewer years when somebody's profile can be checked. | As for capping the limit at six years, I'm not sure why? All it means is there are now fewer years when somebody's profile can be checked. |
| Criminals are less likely to be apprehended. | Criminals are less likely to be apprehended. |
| NO - DAVID SWEENEY, 28, MANCHESTER | NO - DAVID SWEENEY, 28, MANCHESTER |
| David Sweeney says police treated him unfairly for being on the database | David Sweeney says police treated him unfairly for being on the database |
| In 2004, I was attacked on my way home by two men, after which I was arrested on the charge of a affray. | In 2004, I was attacked on my way home by two men, after which I was arrested on the charge of a affray. |
| My DNA was taken. But it was later proved that the police were mistaken in arresting me and no charge was brought. | My DNA was taken. But it was later proved that the police were mistaken in arresting me and no charge was brought. |
| I have since written to my MP several times about getting my DNA removed from the database. | I have since written to my MP several times about getting my DNA removed from the database. |
| I believed that police could not remain unbiased towards me or anyone on the database. | I believed that police could not remain unbiased towards me or anyone on the database. |
| And this was confirmed two months ago. | And this was confirmed two months ago. |
| I dropped a friend off at Manchester Airport and double parked. A foolish mistake and on returning to my car the police had arrived and given me a ticket. | I dropped a friend off at Manchester Airport and double parked. A foolish mistake and on returning to my car the police had arrived and given me a ticket. |
| They asked if I was "known to the police" and I said no, having no criminal record. | They asked if I was "known to the police" and I said no, having no criminal record. |
| There was no separation between my DNA records and those of a violent criminal David Sweeney, Manchester Have your say on the DNA database | There was no separation between my DNA records and those of a violent criminal David Sweeney, Manchester Have your say on the DNA database |
| I was already apologetic and admitted my mistake and had accepted the parking fine. | I was already apologetic and admitted my mistake and had accepted the parking fine. |
| But when they then heard over the radio that I was on the DNA database, they treated me with total contempt - as if I were a serious criminal. | But when they then heard over the radio that I was on the DNA database, they treated me with total contempt - as if I were a serious criminal. |
| "You lied to us", they said. "You're on the database. So you've obviously done something wrong. What are you trying to conceal now?" | "You lied to us", they said. "You're on the database. So you've obviously done something wrong. What are you trying to conceal now?" |
| I was disgusted at how they reacted to the knowledge I was on the database. | I was disgusted at how they reacted to the knowledge I was on the database. |
| There was no separation between my DNA records and those of a violent criminal. | There was no separation between my DNA records and those of a violent criminal. |
| This characterises my main problem with the database. Anyone who is on it, I think the police will have an inclination to see them as a criminal. | This characterises my main problem with the database. Anyone who is on it, I think the police will have an inclination to see them as a criminal. |
| All they heard over the radio was "he's on the database". Did they know I had committed no crime? I don't think so. | All they heard over the radio was "he's on the database". Did they know I had committed no crime? I don't think so. |
| I have always thought that we should either have everyone on it, or convicted criminals only. | I have always thought that we should either have everyone on it, or convicted criminals only. |
| YES - Keep my DNA on file (Sam West) | YES - Keep my DNA on file (Sam West) |