Wednesday, December 03, 2008
The DNA scandal
Today's lead story in the Western Mail that 64,000 DNA samples from Welsh children are being stored on a police database is no surprise, though it is no less shocking for that.
In fact this story is a follow-up to headlines such as this last year in which it was revealed that the number of innocent children placed on the Government's vast DNA database for life had quadrupled to more than 100,000.
Clearly, the size of this database has grown exponentially since then. In fact around 80,000 innocent children are likely to be added to the database every 12 months, as that is the average number of children arrested for the first time each year but never convicted. Parents can appeal to have their child's DNA removed but this is at the discretion of chief constables.
The situation in Wales contrasts sharply with the use of DNA samples in Scotland. Police in Wales and England can keep samples even after those arrested have been released without charge or acquitted. In Scotland, samples are only kept if convictions have been secured or if the alleged crime is a serious offence.
We really do need to make the Scottish model standard for the rest of the UK.
In fact this story is a follow-up to headlines such as this last year in which it was revealed that the number of innocent children placed on the Government's vast DNA database for life had quadrupled to more than 100,000.
Clearly, the size of this database has grown exponentially since then. In fact around 80,000 innocent children are likely to be added to the database every 12 months, as that is the average number of children arrested for the first time each year but never convicted. Parents can appeal to have their child's DNA removed but this is at the discretion of chief constables.
The situation in Wales contrasts sharply with the use of DNA samples in Scotland. Police in Wales and England can keep samples even after those arrested have been released without charge or acquitted. In Scotland, samples are only kept if convictions have been secured or if the alleged crime is a serious offence.
We really do need to make the Scottish model standard for the rest of the UK.
Comments:
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"Parents can appeal to have their child's DNA removed but this is at the discretion of chief constables..."
"...Police in Wales and England can keep samples even after those arrested have been released without charge or acquitted."
Do we need to establish what the policies are for the four Welsh Police Forces?
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"...Police in Wales and England can keep samples even after those arrested have been released without charge or acquitted."
Do we need to establish what the policies are for the four Welsh Police Forces?
# posted by 
: 5:25 PM
: 5:25 PM<< Home
