Government Outlines New Proposals For DNA Database

New proposals to trim up to 850,000 DNA profiles from the current 4.5 million total from the national database were outlined by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith today.

The genetic profiles of hundreds of thousands of innocent people are to be kept on the national DNA database for up to 12 years. The proposals also include plans to keep the DNA profiles of innocent people who are arrested but not convicted of minor offences for six years. It will also apply to children from age 10 who are arrested but have not been successfully prosecuted.

Between April 1998 and September 2008 there were more than 390,000 crimes with DNA matches, providing the police with a lead on the possible identity of the offender.

However, human rights groups and opponents to the scheme have accused the Government of giving "as little as possible" in response to the European Court of Human Rights judgement.

Last year the court ruled that the database in England and Wales' was illegal - unlike Scotland's which was deemed "fair and proportionate".

Liberty's Shami Chakrabarti said: "Wholly innocent people - including children - will have their most intimate details stockpiled for years on a database that will remain massively out of step with the rest of the world."

The Liberal Democrats' Chris Hume also said: "The Government just doesn't get this. This is an undignified rearguard action designed to give as little as possible.”

The Home Office said in 2006-07 alone there were 41,717 crimes with DNA matches.

"These included 452 homicides, 644 rapes, 222 other sex offences and 1,872 other violent crimes. There were also thousands of matches with less serious crimes, including more than 8,500 domestic burglaries.

Launching the public consultation, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "It is crucial that we do everything we can to protect the public by preventing crime and bringing offenders to justice. The DNA database plays a vital role in helping us do that and will help ensure that a great many criminals are behind bars where they belong.

"As I said in December, I have real sympathy for all those victims and victims' families who have concerns that any move could undermine a system that helped trap murders and rapists, such as Sally Ann Bowman's killer. These new proposals will ensure that the right people are on it, as well as considering where people should come off."

She continued: "We will ensure that the most serious offenders are added to the database no matter when or where they were convicted. We also know that the database has provided matches for a significant number of serious crimes as well as providing thousands of matches for less serious crimes that cause great concern to victims, such as burglary, which is why we are proposing to keep some profiles for six years."

(JM/BMcC)