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DNA test requires united response

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Published Date: 05 December 2008
THE European Court of Human Rights has ruled in favour of two UK citizens, ordering that their DNA should not be retained by the police because they have not been convicted of any crime. Police in England, Wales and Northern Ireland hold DNA from about 4.5 million people, collected during criminal investigations. But if a person is not charged or is found innocent, the DNA remains on file.
As a result, there are a number of cases where the DNA from these "innocent" files has been matched to other offences, including rape. The European ruling obviously reduce the chances of making these serendipitous matches. Equally, there is a questio...



The full article contains 232 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 05 December 2008 2:01 AM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Mr. Lachie Todd,

Edinburgh 05/12/2008 08:58:08
Yesterday, on Channel 4 News, an English scientist, one of the world's acknowledged experts on the ethical collection and retention of DNA samples for forensic examination, claimed that "the Scottish model was the
correct one to be followed".

It is obvious that the authorities in Scotland have struck the correct balance in this matter, and this was acknowledged by the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights.

It is England and Wales, and Northern Ireland, that are are out of step.
2

NorT,

Edinburgh 05/12/2008 16:34:45
I agree with #1. There should not be a national database and only those convicted in the courts should have their DNA retained and then only for serious offecnes. Your comments are wrong

 

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