Child DNA is added to ‘Big Brother’ database

Date article online: 14/04/2008

Details of nearly 2,000 children across Greater Manchester were added to the DNA database in only three months, shock new figures reveal.

Youngsters aged 10 to 17 accounted for around one in four new additions to the database, according to records released in Parliament.

The figures, obtained by the Liberal Democrats, suggest the number of children having DNA stored as a percentage of the entire samples was above the national average.

Records of 1,075 children under 16 were placed on the system - that’s 14.9 per cent - compared with the national average of 12.1 per cent. In addition, 860 samples from 16 to 18-year-olds were added.

Officials can hold under-18s’ genetic fingerprints indefinitely, even if they are released without charge. Nationally, 18,358 samples from under-16s and a further 19,460 of 17 and 18-years-olds’ DNA was stored in the three-month period.

The Lib Dems condemned the practice claiming it was a grotesque over-reaction and was leading to the mass criminalisation of children. Jenny Willott, the party’s justice spokeswoman, said: “These shocking figures demonstrate how many children are being dragged into the criminal justice system by the Government.

“There is something horribly ‘Big Brother-ish’ about a society that is adding over 5,000 children a month nationally to a DNA database when they’re not even old enough to get a National Insurance number!

“Those who have never been charged or convicted with any offence should have their DNA removed from the database. It is completely unacceptable.”

Before 2001, police had to destroy the details of anyone who was not charged or was later acquitted but the law was changed to allow samples to be kept from anyone arrested for a recordable offence.

The Government insists innocent people have nothing to fear.

A Home Office spokesman said: “Retaining this evidence is no different to recording other forms of information such as photographs and witness statements.”