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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| DNA pioneer's civil rights fears | DNA pioneer's civil rights fears |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| The UK's DNA database may have grown so far beyond what it was intended to do it risks undermining civil rights, one of its pioneers has told the BBC. | The UK's DNA database may have grown so far beyond what it was intended to do it risks undermining civil rights, one of its pioneers has told the BBC. |
| Prof Alec Jeffreys said hundreds of thousands of innocent people's DNA was now held - with a disproportionate number from young black men. | Prof Alec Jeffreys said hundreds of thousands of innocent people's DNA was now held - with a disproportionate number from young black men. |
| The UK holds 3.6m DNA samples - the world's biggest database. | The UK holds 3.6m DNA samples - the world's biggest database. |
| A public consultation is to ask whether samples should continue to be held, if an arrested person is later released. | A public consultation is to ask whether samples should continue to be held, if an arrested person is later released. |
| 'Mission creep' | 'Mission creep' |
| DNA fingerprinting inventor Prof Jeffreys told BBC Radio Four's Today programme: "The real concern I have in the UK is what I see as a sort of 'mission creep'. | DNA fingerprinting inventor Prof Jeffreys told BBC Radio Four's Today programme: "The real concern I have in the UK is what I see as a sort of 'mission creep'. |
| "When the DNA database was initially established, it was to database DNA from criminals so if they re-offended, they could be picked up. | "When the DNA database was initially established, it was to database DNA from criminals so if they re-offended, they could be picked up. |
| "Now hundreds of thousands of entirely innocent people are now populating that database, people who have come to the police's attention, for example by being charged with a crime and subsequently released." | "Now hundreds of thousands of entirely innocent people are now populating that database, people who have come to the police's attention, for example by being charged with a crime and subsequently released." |
| The power of detecting these offences as far as the victims are concerned should never be underestimated Chief Constable Tony Lake | The power of detecting these offences as far as the victims are concerned should never be underestimated Chief Constable Tony Lake |
| He said the samples were "skewed socio-economically and ethnically", adding: "My view is that that is discriminatory." | He said the samples were "skewed socio-economically and ethnically", adding: "My view is that that is discriminatory." |
| And he was concerned that samples taken for one purpose could be used for different purposes in the future. | And he was concerned that samples taken for one purpose could be used for different purposes in the future. |
| Last week prime minister Tony Blair revealed he had given his own DNA sample voluntarily in 1999 and said the maximum number of samples possible should be held on the database. | Last week prime minister Tony Blair revealed he had given his own DNA sample voluntarily in 1999 and said the maximum number of samples possible should be held on the database. |
| 'Shoe rapist' | 'Shoe rapist' |
| Police now get more than 3,500 DNA matches a month. In 2005/6 they got matches for 45,000 crimes, including 422 murders and 645 rapes. | Police now get more than 3,500 DNA matches a month. In 2005/6 they got matches for 45,000 crimes, including 422 murders and 645 rapes. |
| "Shoe rapist" James Lloyd of South Yorkshire, convicted in July of a string of sex attacks in the 1980s, was solved through "familial" DNA - where a sample from a family member leads to the criminal. | "Shoe rapist" James Lloyd of South Yorkshire, convicted in July of a string of sex attacks in the 1980s, was solved through "familial" DNA - where a sample from a family member leads to the criminal. |
| Lincolnshire Chief Constable Tony Lake said he understood concerns, but told the BBC: "My real concern is that we have a database where we don't maximise the advantages as far as the public are concerned. | Lincolnshire Chief Constable Tony Lake said he understood concerns, but told the BBC: "My real concern is that we have a database where we don't maximise the advantages as far as the public are concerned. |
| The prime minister is a strong supporter of DNA technology | The prime minister is a strong supporter of DNA technology |
| "The power of detecting these offences as far as the victims are concerned should never be underestimated." | "The power of detecting these offences as far as the victims are concerned should never be underestimated." |
| He said it was not true that witnesses and victims automatically had their DNA put on the database, they had to volunteer first. | He said it was not true that witnesses and victims automatically had their DNA put on the database, they had to volunteer first. |
| But once consent is given, it cannot be withdrawn, unlike in Scotland. Mr Lake said he agreed this should be a matter for debate. | But once consent is given, it cannot be withdrawn, unlike in Scotland. Mr Lake said he agreed this should be a matter for debate. |
| The Nuffield Council on Bioethics is to seek views on whether samples should be kept from all people arrested, even if they are never convicted with a crime. | The Nuffield Council on Bioethics is to seek views on whether samples should be kept from all people arrested, even if they are never convicted with a crime. |
| Chairman Professor Bob Hepple QC said they would ask whether the fact that most DNA samples were from young men or ethnic minorities meant there was a "potential for bias" in law enforcement. | Chairman Professor Bob Hepple QC said they would ask whether the fact that most DNA samples were from young men or ethnic minorities meant there was a "potential for bias" in law enforcement. |
| It will also look at whether it would be fairer to include everyone on the database - something that the government has stopped short of proposing so far. | It will also look at whether it would be fairer to include everyone on the database - something that the government has stopped short of proposing so far. |
| Prof Hepple said the central issue was whether the UK would "become instead of a nation of citizens, a nation of suspects". | Prof Hepple said the central issue was whether the UK would "become instead of a nation of citizens, a nation of suspects". |
| Anna Fairclough, of human rights group Liberty, suggested the merits of the database were being overestimated: "Less than half a percent of recorded crime in the UK is the result of using DNA. | |
| "It is not the case that if everybody was on the database that would mean all crime could be solved." | "It is not the case that if everybody was on the database that would mean all crime could be solved." |