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Call to reform police DNA testing Call to reform police DNA testing
(about 2 hours later)
Police should not routinely DNA test everyone they arrest, the government's genetic advisers have concluded.Police should not routinely DNA test everyone they arrest, the government's genetic advisers have concluded.
The Human Genetics Commission (HGC) wants the police given new guidance to regulate when it is appropriate to take a sample of DNA.The Human Genetics Commission (HGC) wants the police given new guidance to regulate when it is appropriate to take a sample of DNA.
It also said it had evidence police had made arrests just to get people on the database, a claim police chiefs denied.It also said it had evidence police had made arrests just to get people on the database, a claim police chiefs denied.
The database for England and Wales also holds some profiles of people arrested in Scotland and Northern Ireland.The database for England and Wales also holds some profiles of people arrested in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Major reviewMajor review
A retired police superintendent told the HGC it had become the "norm" to arrest suspects simply to obtain their DNA.A retired police superintendent told the HGC it had become the "norm" to arrest suspects simply to obtain their DNA.
But the Association of Chief Police Officers dismissed the claim as "plainly wrong".But the Association of Chief Police Officers dismissed the claim as "plainly wrong".
The HGC report also said some groups were disproportionately represented on the database and it was concerned some would be stigmatised.The HGC report also said some groups were disproportionately represented on the database and it was concerned some would be stigmatised.
Under Labour's surveillance state everyone is treated as a potential suspect James BrokenshireShadow home office ministerUnder Labour's surveillance state everyone is treated as a potential suspect James BrokenshireShadow home office minister
Young black men were "very highly over-represented", it said. Three quarters of men aged 18 to 35 on the database are black, the report found.Young black men were "very highly over-represented", it said. Three quarters of men aged 18 to 35 on the database are black, the report found.
HGC chairman, Professor Jonathan Montgomery, said it had been transformed over the years from a database of offenders to a database of suspects.HGC chairman, Professor Jonathan Montgomery, said it had been transformed over the years from a database of offenders to a database of suspects.
Prof Montgomery told the BBC: "DNA evidence is important in the investigation of crime but it's far from clear that a database plays an effective role in that.
"We're calling for more research, more evidence in the contribution the database makes."
Currently everyone arrested for an offence that could lead to a criminal record has their DNA taken for the database - the largest of its kind in the world with five million samples.Currently everyone arrested for an offence that could lead to a criminal record has their DNA taken for the database - the largest of its kind in the world with five million samples.
The HGC's major review of the national database concluded that there was "very little concrete evidence" as to its usefulness in investigating crime.The HGC's major review of the national database concluded that there was "very little concrete evidence" as to its usefulness in investigating crime.
The report also called for ministers to:The report also called for ministers to:
• Set out in law what DNA profiles can be used for• Set out in law what DNA profiles can be used for
• Make abuse of records a criminal offence with strict penalties• Make abuse of records a criminal offence with strict penalties
• Create an independent advisory body with oversight powers to help make the database and its work more transparent; and• Create an independent advisory body with oversight powers to help make the database and its work more transparent; and
• Make police officers and everyone who comes into contact with crime scenes through their work have their profiles recorded as a condition of employment.• Make police officers and everyone who comes into contact with crime scenes through their work have their profiles recorded as a condition of employment.
Shadow home office minister James Brokenshire, said: "For too long the government has had a policy of growing the DNA database for the sake of it regardless of guilt or innocence.Shadow home office minister James Brokenshire, said: "For too long the government has had a policy of growing the DNA database for the sake of it regardless of guilt or innocence.
"Under Labour's surveillance state everyone is treated as a potential suspect.""Under Labour's surveillance state everyone is treated as a potential suspect."
'Crime-fighting tool''Crime-fighting tool'
Earlier this month the Home Office announced that the DNA of most innocent people arrested in England, Wales and Northern Ireland would not be kept for more than six years.Earlier this month the Home Office announced that the DNA of most innocent people arrested in England, Wales and Northern Ireland would not be kept for more than six years.
But it said police may be allowed to keep DNA from terrorism suspects, even if they are later freed or found not guilty.But it said police may be allowed to keep DNA from terrorism suspects, even if they are later freed or found not guilty.
A Home Office spokesman said they had set "the right threshold".A Home Office spokesman said they had set "the right threshold".
"DNA samples are taken on arrest for recordable offences carrying a prison sentence," he added."DNA samples are taken on arrest for recordable offences carrying a prison sentence," he added.
"We know that the DNA database is a vital crime-fighting tool.""We know that the DNA database is a vital crime-fighting tool."
But Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne accused ministers of having a "cavalier attitude" towards DNA retention.But Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne accused ministers of having a "cavalier attitude" towards DNA retention.
"Ministers make no distinction between innocence and guilt and as a result everyone is treated like a suspect," he said."Ministers make no distinction between innocence and guilt and as a result everyone is treated like a suspect," he said.
The European Court of Human Rights ruled last year that the database was illegal because it allowed police to indefinitely retain the profiles of people who had been arrested - but never actually charged or found guilty of a crime.The European Court of Human Rights ruled last year that the database was illegal because it allowed police to indefinitely retain the profiles of people who had been arrested - but never actually charged or found guilty of a crime.