National DNA database proposed by police

A national DNA database is to be proposed by the Police Superintendents Association of England and Wales (PSAEW) at its annual conference this week, according to The Times newspaper. While intended as a resource to fight crime, the database also carries significant privacy concerns.10 Sep 2003

PSAEW President Kevin Morris is to urge the Government to create a national database of DNA samples from everyone in the UK – from newborn to senior citizen – said The Times' report. Morris told the newspaper:

"If we have a compulsory database to which every citizen is expected to donate their DNA as a responsibility within our society, I fervently believe we will not only detect crimes quicker but we will help prevent them in the first place."

Barry Hugill, of human rights organisation Liberty, told The Times: "We think this is unnecessary and that it would make everyone a suspect."

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