[Infowarrior] - UK Court: UK DNA database violates human rights

[Richard Forno]

One million innocent people could have their profiles wiped from  
Britain's 'Orwellian' DNA database after court ruling

By Ian Drury
Last updated at 1:50 AM on 05th December 2008

Nearly a million innocent citizens could see their profiles deleted  
from the DNA database following a landmark court ruling.

European judges said it was unlawful for police to store swabs and  
fingerprints from suspects later cleared of wrongdoing.

In a damning verdict, the 17-strong panel said keeping the records  
'could not be regarded as necessary in a democracy'.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she was disappointed by the decision.

But some campaigners said the future of other Government databases,  
including the national ID register, was in doubt.

Before 2001, the police had to destroy DNA samples of individuals  
acquitted or not charged. But a rule change has allowed them to keep  
profiles of everyone arrested for a recordable offence in England,  
Wales and Northern Ireland.

The details of about 4.5million people are held on the database yet  
one in five  -  including 40,000 children  -  has never been charged  
with an offence.

The Home Office says the register has proved a key intelligence tool  
in solving 3,500 cases  -  including high-profile rapes and murders.

Yesterday however the European Court of Human Rights ruled against  
police in a case brought by two British men.

Their profiles were stored by South Yorkshire Police despite neither  
being convicted of an offence.

The Strasbourg court found the force had violated article 8 of the  
European Convention on Human Rights  -  the right to respect for  
private and family life.

In a strongly-worded attack, it condemned the 'blanket and  
indiscriminate nature' of the powers.

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1091880/One-million-innocent-people-profiles-wiped-Britains-DNA-database-court-ruling.html#