The Liberal Democrats have called for South Yorkshire Police to delete the details of 4,000 youngsters on their computer database.
The party called for the removal of all samples obtained from under-16s who were not convicted of a sexual or violent crime.
The current, disgraceful system allows the police to keep samples of DNA from anyone arrested of even the most minor of crimes, even if they are neither charged, nor convicted.
Figures obtained from the Home Office show that South Yorkshire Police have 4,269 details of under-16s on their computer database, which they are allowed to keep for life.
Chris Huhne, Home Affairs spokesman said:
“Time and time again, this government has shown a cavalier attitude towards the gathering and safeguarding of personal data.
“Ministers may think it is acceptable to keep the DNA of children in perpetuity for the most minor of offences, but we have demonstrated that we do not.”
The news that so many of our youngsters are having their personal records kept on the largest DNA database in the world is shocking. The government, and the police, are using scare tactics to play on people’s fears as we edge ever closer to a surveillance state.
Although the government claim that the database is key to clearing up crimes, more than one in seven samples on the national database have been obtained from individuals who have not been cautioned or given a formal warning; who have not been charged; and who have not been convicted.
These are innocent people. People who are being treated as criminals, yet have committed no crime.
Britain is a liberal society, one of the finest in the world. But Labour and the Conservatives are willing to erode our civil liberties.
DNA evidence is not the key to solving crimes. Better policing; more police officers – that is how we can cut crime in Britain. Not by watching everyone’s move; not by listening to every conversation that is being had; not by phone taps and not by recording everyone’s DNA.
The solution is simple.
Keep innocent people off the DNA database. Scrap ID cards, which have been shown not to work. Put more money into the frontline troops, the policemen and policewomen that surve to protect our communities.
