DNA to be indefinitely stored on national database

[US Seagull]

DNA to be indefinitely stored on national database
By Emma Nash [23-07-2004]
Lords rule that DNA taken from people who don't face criminal charges can be held

DNA taken from people who have not been convicted of any crime will be indefinitely stored on a national database.

The House of Lords has dismissed two cases from people who had given DNA samples but not charged with any crime and wanted their samples destroyed.

But Lords said they could see no reason why anyone should object to the samples being stored in a database and the role it would play in solving crimes would outweigh human rights issues.

'The larger the database, the less call there is to round up the usual suspects,' said Lord Brown, one of the five Lords who ruled on the case. 'Indeed, those amongst the usual suspects who are innocent will be at once exonerated.'

link:

http://www.pcmag.co.uk/News/1156830

 

[dougdeep]

It's OK with me.

 

[Knightsworld]

I am in that position, i was arrested, frogmarched to Durrington, had my writes, taken in for DNA testing realeased without even a caution

I was treated like a criminal and had done nothing wrong

So i know why these guys are brassed off.

 

[Yorkie]

I thought (naively) that fingerprints taken during an investigation had to be destroyed if the person wasn't charged?

Surely the Court of Human Rights can overule this?

 

[Knightsworld]

I thought (naively) that fingerprints taken during an investigation had to be destroyed if the person wasn't charged?

Surely the Court of Human Rights can overule this?

I'll have to check it out

 

[West Hoathly Seagull]

I probably shouldn't comment too much, as it was my department that introduced this law. I'm no civil libbo, but I sat in the Lords feeling slightly concerned as Baroness Scotland took it through (though I have to say she argued her case brilliantly and very persuasively). As for the challenge, Yorkie, and correct me any lawyers among you if I'm wrong, I think that if they brought it under the ECHR, then that will be as far as they can go. Since we incorporated the ECHR into our law through the Human Rights Act, the Strasbourg court has tended either not to allow any further challenge or to abide with rulings from the Lords. Mind you, whatever one's concerns, DNA might have nailed Russell Bishop if he was guilty of the Moulsecoomb murders, before he tried to murder the other girl.

 

[BensGrandad]

I ahve no objections to that or an ID Card. The main group against this idea will be those with something to hide. If it helps solve a crime and in so doing stops another one being committed what is the problem?

 

[Beach Hut]

I don't really have a problem with this - I suppose those the don't abide by the law will so maybe they might behave ?

 

[Yorkie]

I don't have a problem with ID cards at all.

 

[Beach Hut]

Neither do I.

I have a passport, an electronic card ID for work with my name and photo on and a season ticket with my name and photo on - so you could say I have three types of ID cards already.

 

[sully]

I also see no reason why the police shouldn't hold details of everyone's DNA. It would save them a great deal of time rounding up "usual suspects" and others implicated and actually means that situations such as that described by Knightsworld above would be minimised.

If it means innocent people are not treated like criminals, it's OK by me!

As others have said, the only people who need be worried by this sort of thing are those with something to hide.

 

[Yorkie]

I used to have an ID card for the WRNS, whilst I worked for Yorkshire Electricity and recently after moving a photo driving licence (as well as a passport)

 

[BensGrandad]

The major objection for females is that it would show their correct age.

I belivwe the ID card should be in different colours to denote the stages of life that age is aconsideration .eg. White from birth to 14 (adult transport fares) Yellow to 18 for everything up to drinking age Red from 18 -65 Blue over 65.

As a publican I would not care if the person is 18 or 50 so long as they are over 18 to buy a drink. The same for over 65s it doesn't matter how much over that age the person is provided they are over 65 and entitl;ed to the benfits of that age group. I also belive that ages shopuld be bought in line. How can it be legal to bet on the lottery at 16 but not on a horse until 18. Have sex at 16 and die for your country at 17 but not vote or be able to get married without your parents consent until 18.

 

[Yorkie]

The new photocard driving licence shows your age as well

In fact the old one did although it was disguised into your driver number. (DOB is mixed in)

I never really understand the need for a woman to hide her age. I am 56 in 3 weeks and not ashamed of it.

 

[West Hoathly Seagull]

My own worries about having my DNA kept when I was innocent were totally overcome when Baroness Scotland explained that of course it could be used to show that someone was innocent, and she then went on to explain that 2 murders that had been unsolved for 30 years were solved using DNA, and it has just been reported on the radio that another load of cases is about to be solved because of DNA. By the way, I have no problem with ID cards, and actively support them. I have a photocard driving licence and a photo pass for work, without which I wouldn't get in.