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Mandatory DNA database rejected Mandatory DNA database rejected
(about 3 hours later)
Calls to put the DNA of every UK resident on a national database are impractical, the government has said.Calls to put the DNA of every UK resident on a national database are impractical, the government has said.
Senior police officers have argued for a universal register after two killers were convicted on DNA evidence. A senior police officer has argued for a universal register, after two killers were convicted on DNA evidence.
Suffolk serial murderer Steve Wright and Sally Anne Bowman's killer, Mark Dixie, were both captured because their DNA was taken after unrelated offences. Sally Anne Bowman's killer, Mark Dixie, and Suffolk serial murderer Steve Wright were both captured because their DNA was taken after unrelated offences.
The Home Office said a mandatory database "would raise significant practical and ethical issues". But the Home Office said a mandatory database "would raise significant practical and ethical issues".
The DNA database, which covers England and Wales, currently contains around 4.5m profiles - routinely taken from criminal suspects after most arrests.The DNA database, which covers England and Wales, currently contains around 4.5m profiles - routinely taken from criminal suspects after most arrests.
It is already the largest of its kind in the world.It is already the largest of its kind in the world.
'Reasonable and proportionate''Reasonable and proportionate'
Steve Wright was on the system after being convicted of theft in 2003, and when police found his DNA on the bodies of some of his victims they matched it with his profile.Steve Wright was on the system after being convicted of theft in 2003, and when police found his DNA on the bodies of some of his victims they matched it with his profile.
It is my opinion that a national DNA register - with all its appropriate safeguards - could have identified Sally Anne's murderer within 24 hours Det Supt Stuart CundyIt is my opinion that a national DNA register - with all its appropriate safeguards - could have identified Sally Anne's murderer within 24 hours Det Supt Stuart Cundy
But Mark Dixie was not on the system at the time of Sally Anne Bowman's murder. But Mark Dixie was not on the system at the time of Sally Anne Bowman's murder in 2005.
It was only when Dixie was arrested for assault after a fight in a bar that his DNA was taken and he was linked to the murder.It was only when Dixie was arrested for assault after a fight in a bar that his DNA was taken and he was linked to the murder.
He was arrested within five hours.He was arrested within five hours.
Det Supt Stuart Cundy, who led the murder hunt which led to Dixie's conviction, said: "It is my opinion that a national DNA register - with all its appropriate safeguards - could have identified Sally Anne's murderer within 24 hours.Det Supt Stuart Cundy, who led the murder hunt which led to Dixie's conviction, said: "It is my opinion that a national DNA register - with all its appropriate safeguards - could have identified Sally Anne's murderer within 24 hours.
"Instead it took nearly nine months before Mark Dixie was identified and almost two and a half years for justice to be done." "Instead it took nearly nine months before Mark Dixie was identified, and almost two-and-a-half years for justice to be done."
The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) is also calling for a debate on the issue.The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) is also calling for a debate on the issue.
Lincolnshire's Chief Constable, Tony Lake, who speaks for the association on DNA, said he was not convinced by the need for a universal database but recognised the arguments on both sides. Lincolnshire's Chief Constable, Tony Lake, who speaks for the association on DNA, said he was not convinced by the need for a universal database, but recognised the arguments on both sides.
He said: "If there was a national database of everybody then we would solve more crime, of that there is absolutely no doubt. He said: "If there was a national database of everybody then we would solve more crime, of that there is absolutely no doubt...
How to maintain the security of a database with 4.5m people on it is one thing. Doing that for 60m people is another Tony McNulty, Home Office ministerHow to maintain the security of a database with 4.5m people on it is one thing. Doing that for 60m people is another Tony McNulty, Home Office minister
"In the conviction of Steve Wright - and today of Mark Dixie - you've heard about the vital importance that DNA played. But any database that we hold has to be reasonable and proportionate in the eyes of the public." "But any database that we hold has to be reasonable and proportionate in the eyes of the public."
Human rights Home Office minister Tony McNulty said a national database was not a "silver bullet" and it would raise practical as well as civil liberties issues.
Home Office minister Tony McNulty told BBC that a national database was not a "silver bullet" and that it would raise practical as well as civil liberties issues.
"How to maintain the security of a database with 4.5m people on it is one thing," he said."How to maintain the security of a database with 4.5m people on it is one thing," he said.
"Doing that for 60m people is another.""Doing that for 60m people is another."
In September 2007, Lord Justice Sedley - one of England's most experienced appeal court judges - called for the register to be made universal and condemned the existing system as "indefensible". Human rights
But civil liberties groups have warned such a register would be open to abuse. In September 2007, Lord Justice Sedley - one of England's most experienced appeal court judges - called for the register to be made universal, and condemned the existing system as "indefensible".
However, the existing register could be threatened when the European Court of Human Rights are asked to rule next week on a test case of two Britons who want their details removed from the database. However, the existing register could be threatened when the European Court of Human Rights is asked to rule next week on a test case of two Britons who want their details removed from the database.
The applicants say their human rights have been infringed by the decision to leave their details on the database, despite the fact that they had never been found guilty of a crime.
The Times estimates if the two applicants succeed in their bid to have their records removed, 13% of the profiles on the database may have to be destroyed.
The pair, from Sheffield, had their DNA taken after they were arrested in 2001, but charges were not pressed.The pair, from Sheffield, had their DNA taken after they were arrested in 2001, but charges were not pressed.
The applicants say their human rights have been infringed by the decision to leave their details on the database, despite the fact that they had never been found guilty of a crime.