Morning:
13°c
Record number added to DNA database
12.10.08
- Iraq war files show US-UK tensions
- £149m tanks useless in Afghanistan
- Communities face up to flood damage
- Conduct watchdog MP in expenses row
- Graphic images to shock knife yobs
- Bid to solve NHS sick leave dilemma
- Brown: China can drive UK recovery
- Four due to face terrorism charges
- Bid to derail peace process slammed
- Jedward jibe by Tories targets PM
The number of people whose details were added to the DNA database rose to its highest level in a single year, new figures have revealed.
Samples taken placed on the National DNA Database went up by 1% in 2006-07 to 722,464, according to the annual report.
The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA), which published the report, said more than 4.4 million people's DNA was stored on the database, making it the largest in the world per head of population.
Taking into account replication factors, there were 3.8 million different individuals represented on the database up to the end of March 2007. Of those, 79.6% were from men, 41% from people aged 15-24 and 8% from children aged 14 and under, the report revealed.
The database has been the subject of criticism over its inclusion of DNA samples from children and those who were not convicted of any crime.
The Home Office said in August that the profiles of an estimated 39,095 10 to 17-year-olds who "had not been convicted, cautioned, received a final warning/reprimand and had no charge pending against them" were on the database.
Opposition parties said it was evidence the Government was building a national DNA database (NDNAD) by stealth and called for a parliamentary debate on the issue.
It followed calls from a Government-appointed advisory body for a more straightforward system for innocent people to have their samples removed from the database.
The Ethics Group said samples obtained during police investigations should be destroyed at the end of an inquiry rather than loaded on to the NDNAD.
According to the annual report, the DNA database does not hold information on whether those on it have committed any offence. It is stored on the Police National Computer but is not routinely available.
