Boosts In Arrests For A Little DNA
Posted on 25. Nov, 2009 by Shera Crossan in Health, Hidden Crimes, Science and Technology
Officers will arrest individuals for “everything” because they then have to power to take DNA samples, even if they wouldn’t have been detained under other circumstances.The Human Genetics Commission (HGC) warned the alarming practice, which was revealed by a retired senior police officer, was creating a “spiral of suspicion” over the DNA database.
It suggested the growth in the programme, which is the largest of its kind in the world, stemmed from a pledge in 2000 by Tony Blair, the then Prime Minister, to have the DNA of every criminal within three years.
The Commission, an independent Government advisory body, also questioned the effectiveness of the database in helping to solve crimes and called for a detailed examination of its success.
A public debate and proper scrutiny of the system was needed as there was “very little concrete evidence” as to how useful the database was in investigating crime.
“It matters not, of course, whether the arrest leads to no action, a caution or a charge, because the DNA is kept on the database anyway.”
he HGC report, Nothing to hide, nothing to fear?, also warned current policies have a “disproportionate effect” on different age and ethnic groups and worries about some being stigmatised.
Young black men are “very highly over-represented” the report says, with more than three quarters of those aged 18-35 on the database.Source
Some people say that a universal DNA database (i.e. a database which would store DNA information of every UK citizen) would overcome any race, gender and socio-economic class bias in the DNA Database. For example, approximately 2% of white males compared with 9% of black males are on the National DNA Database, and DNA information from three out of four black males between the age of 15 and 34 is currently stored on the Database.
At present, some people’s details are on the National DNA Database even though they have not committed a crime. Some say that a universal database would remove any stigma about being placed on a police database. Some say that society will be safer as people may be deterred from committing crimes and that crimes will be solved quicker if there was a universal database in place.Source
sweet, maybe we can just all get barcodes tattoo’d on our wrists and have official numbers also. Actually why not just lock us all up now and the government can have domination!
This is the usual information-gathering spree. Nothing new in history.
Happy and healthy Thanksgiving to my fellow newsnet14 subscribers.