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The new Government plans on the DNA database are an attempt to strike a balance between the needs of crime fighting and the need to protect civil liberties and are based on the most up to date research on offending habits.
This shows that most of those arrested, but not convicted, who then go on to commit a crime do so within six years and that by keeping their DNA for this period, police will be able to catch the majority of such offenders.
The proposals also mean, however, that there will now be a risk that some unconvicted people whose DNA is currently held on the database will go on to commit a serious crime after their records have been deleted - making it far harder for police to identify them.
Ministers believe that because such cases are likely to be relatively few in number - and that to keep innocent DNA for longer would stigmatise many who will never commit crime - the six year time limit is the right place to draw the line.
Their plans are still likely to attract criticism from all sides, however, with civil liberties campaigners arguing that all DNA from innocent people should be deleted instantly and, on the other side, others, including the families of some victims, argue that all samples obtained by police when they arrest a person should be retained indefinitely because of their value in identifying criminals. It is a debate which will not end soon.
