Judge sparks row over DNA database

Lord Justice Sedley said the current system, where DNA profiles are only taken from criminal suspects and crime scenes, was "indefensible".

His comments prompted outrage from civil liberties groups who claimed such an idea was a "chilling proposal".

The Prime Minister's spokesman was also forced to deny there were any plans to bring in a universal database.

Sir Stephen Sedley, one of England's most experienced Appeal Court judges, told BBC News: "Where we are at the moment is indefensible.

"We have a situation where if you happen to have been in the hands of the police, then your DNA is on permanent record. If you haven't, it isn't... that's broadly the picture."

He said disproportionate numbers of ethnic minorities get on to the database where there is ethnic profiling going on.

The judge suggested everybody's DNA should be on file "for the absolutely rigorously restricted purpose of crime detection and prevention".

He also proposed that DNA data from visitors to the UK should be stored.

Home Office Minister Tony McNulty said the Government was "broadly sympathetic" to what the judge had said. But he told BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "There is no Government plan to go to a compulsory database now or in the foreseeable future."