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Police swabbing of child DNA excessive, says charity Police swabbing of child DNA excessive, says charity
(about 3 hours later)
Police in England and Wales have taken DNA samples from children every 10 minutes, new figures show.Police in England and Wales have taken DNA samples from children every 10 minutes, new figures show.
The Howard League for Penal Reform found that officers took 120,000 DNA swabs during 2010 and 2011. The Howard League for Penal Reform said officers taking 120,000 DNA swabs during 2010 and 2011 was "excessive".
The charity said forces were treating children "like hardened criminals", deeming the practice "excessive". But police said samples were taken from victims and witnesses and in paternity cases as well as from suspects.
The Home Office said the law was due to change, adding: "More than 100,000 profiles taken from under-18s have already been deleted."The Home Office said the law was due to change, adding: "More than 100,000 profiles taken from under-18s have already been deleted."
'Up to mischief''Up to mischief'
Research by the Howard League showed that officers took DNA swabs from almost 54,000 children in 2011, including swabs from at least 368 10-year-olds and 1,030 11-year-olds. Research by the Howard League showed that officers took DNA swabs from almost 54,000 children in 2011, including swabs from at least 368 ten-year-olds and 1,030 11-year-olds.
On average, officers therefore took samples from 27 primary school-aged children each week.On average, officers therefore took samples from 27 primary school-aged children each week.
In 2010, officers took almost 70,000 samples from under-18s, including four from children under the age of 10.
The charity revealed that the same year, Thames Valley Police took samples from a seven-year-old and a two-year-old, Avon and Somerset Police took a sample from a five-year-old and Gloucestershire Police took a sample from a baby who was younger than 12 months.
Frances Crook, Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: "When public money is tight and police forces are shrinking, it is disappointing to see valuable crime-fighting resources being wasted on taking DNA samples from thousands of innocent children while serious offences go undetected.Frances Crook, Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: "When public money is tight and police forces are shrinking, it is disappointing to see valuable crime-fighting resources being wasted on taking DNA samples from thousands of innocent children while serious offences go undetected.
"Children who get into trouble with the police are usually just up to mischief.""Children who get into trouble with the police are usually just up to mischief."
'Crime prevention'
Many of the children required to give DNA samples will not have been charged with a criminal offence. They may also have been victims or witnesses.Many of the children required to give DNA samples will not have been charged with a criminal offence. They may also have been victims or witnesses.
Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) lead on DNA, Amanda Cooper, said: "DNA may be taken from children in a number of circumstances with the intention of preventing or detecting crime. The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said: "DNA may be taken from children in a number of circumstances with the intention of preventing or detecting crime.
"These may be when a child has been a victim of crime, when police would take DNA to confirm an incident took place and check whether it can be linked to a perpetrator."These may be when a child has been a victim of crime, when police would take DNA to confirm an incident took place and check whether it can be linked to a perpetrator.
"Others will be as part of criminal investigation where a child is the suspect. DNA samples are also taken to conduct criminal paternity tests as part of sexual offence investigations.""Others will be as part of criminal investigation where a child is the suspect. DNA samples are also taken to conduct criminal paternity tests as part of sexual offence investigations."
Under-10s
The samples were mainly taken from boys, who accounted for around 70% of the swabs.The samples were mainly taken from boys, who accounted for around 70% of the swabs.
New laws
Under current law, police can keep the DNA of anyone they arrest for a recordable offence.Under current law, police can keep the DNA of anyone they arrest for a recordable offence.
However, changes in the law outlining tighter restrictions on keeping DNA are due to come into effect later this year under the Protection of Freedoms Act.However, changes in the law outlining tighter restrictions on keeping DNA are due to come into effect later this year under the Protection of Freedoms Act.
For the first time, DNA samples of under-18s who are convicted of a first offence or minor offence, will be deleted after five years. For the first time, DNA samples of under-18s who are convicted of a first offence or minor offence will be deleted after five years.
Their DNA will only be retained indefinitely if they are convicted of a qualifying offence - these are serious violent or sexual offences, terrorism offences or burglary offences. Their DNA will be retained indefinitely only if they are convicted of a "qualifying offence" - serious violent or sexual offences, terrorism offences or burglary offences.
Ms Crook welcomed the changes. "But it remains unclear how this will affect the number of children having their DNA taken needlessly," she said. Ms Crook welcomed the changes, but said it remained unclear how it would affect the number of children having their DNA taken "needlessly".
The Home Office said: "Our changes will ensure DNA profiles are taken from the guilty and disposed of when people have done nothing wrong.The Home Office said: "Our changes will ensure DNA profiles are taken from the guilty and disposed of when people have done nothing wrong.
"DNA evidence is a crucial tool in the fight against crime, but it must be used proportionately. "DNA evidence is a crucial tool in the fight against crime, but it must be used proportionately."
"Through the Protection of Freedoms Act we are restoring common sense to the system by ensuring only those convicted of a criminal offence will have their DNA retained indefinitely." In 2010, officers took almost 70,000 samples from under-18s, including four from children under the age of 10.
That year, Thames Valley Police took samples from a seven-year-old and a two-year-old; Avon and Somerset Police took a sample from a five-year-old and Gloucestershire Police took a sample from a baby who was younger than 12 months, the charity revealed.
However, the three forces insisted that they do not routinely take DNA samples from children under the age of 10.
Superintendent Steve Jefferies, Temporary Head of Avon and Somerset CID, said it was important to remember that children under the age of 10 could not be held criminally responsible for their acts.
"Samples taken from young children under 10 are taken because they have been a victim of crime, not an offender," he said.
The five-year-old in question was the victim of a serious sexual assault, he said. "We believed the sample would help us convict her attacker. The sample has been destroyed."
A Gloucestershire Police spokesperson said: "The DNA was taken as part of paternity testing for a sexual assault investigation, which led to a conviction."
The sample has also been destroyed.
The DNA samples taken by Thames Valley were volunteer samples, taken with parental consent for elimination purposes and deleted immediately afterwards, it is understood.