POLICE STORING DNA SWABS FROM ONE MILLION YOUNG PEOPLE
August 16, 2009 12:00 AM
Originally published by West Midlands Liberal Democrats
Originally published by West Midlands Liberal Democrats
No reason to keep the DNA of innocent young people - Burt
The Government's DNA database holder has revealed that 298 young people on the streets of Britain have DNA samples taken from them every single day, and placed on the database.
The National Policing Improvement Agency, responding to a Freedom of Information Act request from the Liberal Democrats, said that it now holds over 1 million DNA samples from young people.
The DNA samples, taken from children as young as ten years old, have been kept regardless of whether or not the children were convicted of any crime.
Lorely Burt MP said: "Storing the DNA of thousands of innocent young people as young as ten is unlikely to solve our crime problems. The police should have no right to store DNA belonging to children who have not been convicted of any crime.
"West Midlands Police have kept the DNA of over 25,757 10-14 year olds and 37,864 15-17year olds. I'd like to know exactly how this information has helped to tackle crime and the fear of crime in Solihull."
Nearly 40% of these 1.1 million mouth swabs have been taken from 10-14 year-olds, and then stored alongside data on each young person's 'ethnic appearance,' sex and age. In 2009 alone, police forces have taken DNA from 54,311 'subject profiles' aged between 10 and 17.
This is despite the European Court of Human Rights ruling last December that stockpiling the DNA taken using mouth swabs of 850,000 innocent people was unlawful. In response, the Government has only offered a partial climb-down, ordering the police not store the DNA from children younger than ten.
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