Take action
The Protection of Freedoms Act requires about a million innocent people’s records to be removed from the National DNA database in England and Wales.
However, no deadline has yet been set for the removal of records from police databases or the destruction of DNA samples.
If you are an innocent person with a record on the DNA database you should now contact your MP.
Welcome the adoption of the Protection of Freedoms Act and ask when:
- Your DNA and fingerprint records will be removed from police databases;
- Your DNA sample will be destroyed;
- New police guidance will be written to require the removal of your record of arrest from the Police National Computer (PNC).
Your MP should write to the Secretary of State Theresa May on your behalf. They can also ask questions in parliament about this issue.
You should also write to the Chief Constable of the police force which arrested you, asking the same questions.
Children and young people, or their parents, who were given a conviction, reprimand or final warning for a single minor offence more than three years ago can also ask these questions.
Note: the new law does not require the removal of records from adults who have accepted a caution from the police, and people arrested for serious offences can have their records retained for three years in the first instance, or a further two if there is approval by a court.