Amusing Scrotum
21st January 2006, 12:47
From BBC News....
Originally posted by Extent of DNA database revealed
DNA profiles of 24,000 juveniles who have never been cautioned, charged or convicted of an offence are stored on the UK database, an MP has revealed.
Grant Shapps, who represents Welwyn Hatfield, is to launch a campaign to get the details erased from records.
The Conservative MP fears a huge juvenile database - though not illegal - is being created by "stealth".
Suspects who are arrested over any imprisonable offence can have their DNA held even if they are acquitted.
Mistaken identity
Mr Shapps obtained the Home Office figures after a constituent's son was wrongly arrested and his DNA taken.
The youth, 14-year-old Jack Saywood, was the victim of mistaken identity and his DNA placed on the UK database.
After protests, the local chief constable agreed to remove his details.
Jack's mother, Frances, said she was delighted, adding: "I think my son would have had this record for the rest of his life."
Following his campaign to have the youth's details removed, Mr Shapps discovered profiles of 24,000 youngsters aged 10 to 18 were stored.
"This is just a question of building a database by stealth, by the back door," the MP told the BBC.
"If the government wants to have a DNA database of everybody, including our children, then they need to propose that, bring it to Parliament, we can have a good debate about it and maybe pass it as law."
Police discretion
But Home Office minister Andy Burnham said no-one lost out through being on the database.
"It is not a criminal record to which public authorities and others have access.
"It is an investigative tool that the police can use according to their discretion."
He added there were "proper safeguards in place" as to how DNA information could be used.
The Home Office announced earlier this month that 7% of the UK population would be on the database in two years' time. It is already the biggest in the world and has so far cost £300m
Just over 5% of UK residents currently have their DNA profile held, compared with an EU average of 1.13% and 0.5% in the US.
Crime-fighting success
The Home Office says the number of samples stored will rise to 4.25 million by 2008.
Of the three million samples held at present, 139,463 are from people never charged or cautioned.
There are also samples from more than 15,000 volunteers, including victims of crime, who responded to police appeals.
However, the number of crimes solved through DNA technology has quadrupled over the past five years.
Police can now track down offenders by matching samples with other family members who may be on the database.
Source (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4633918.stm).
I have a feeling I am one of that 24,000. Any thoughts on how I can find out and then be removed?
Originally posted by Extent of DNA database revealed
DNA profiles of 24,000 juveniles who have never been cautioned, charged or convicted of an offence are stored on the UK database, an MP has revealed.
Grant Shapps, who represents Welwyn Hatfield, is to launch a campaign to get the details erased from records.
The Conservative MP fears a huge juvenile database - though not illegal - is being created by "stealth".
Suspects who are arrested over any imprisonable offence can have their DNA held even if they are acquitted.
Mistaken identity
Mr Shapps obtained the Home Office figures after a constituent's son was wrongly arrested and his DNA taken.
The youth, 14-year-old Jack Saywood, was the victim of mistaken identity and his DNA placed on the UK database.
After protests, the local chief constable agreed to remove his details.
Jack's mother, Frances, said she was delighted, adding: "I think my son would have had this record for the rest of his life."
Following his campaign to have the youth's details removed, Mr Shapps discovered profiles of 24,000 youngsters aged 10 to 18 were stored.
"This is just a question of building a database by stealth, by the back door," the MP told the BBC.
"If the government wants to have a DNA database of everybody, including our children, then they need to propose that, bring it to Parliament, we can have a good debate about it and maybe pass it as law."
Police discretion
But Home Office minister Andy Burnham said no-one lost out through being on the database.
"It is not a criminal record to which public authorities and others have access.
"It is an investigative tool that the police can use according to their discretion."
He added there were "proper safeguards in place" as to how DNA information could be used.
The Home Office announced earlier this month that 7% of the UK population would be on the database in two years' time. It is already the biggest in the world and has so far cost £300m
Just over 5% of UK residents currently have their DNA profile held, compared with an EU average of 1.13% and 0.5% in the US.
Crime-fighting success
The Home Office says the number of samples stored will rise to 4.25 million by 2008.
Of the three million samples held at present, 139,463 are from people never charged or cautioned.
There are also samples from more than 15,000 volunteers, including victims of crime, who responded to police appeals.
However, the number of crimes solved through DNA technology has quadrupled over the past five years.
Police can now track down offenders by matching samples with other family members who may be on the database.
Source (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4633918.stm).
I have a feeling I am one of that 24,000. Any thoughts on how I can find out and then be removed?