" title="Reclaim Your DNA"> Reclaim Your DNA

Further action

helen on March 24th, 2009.

The Protection of Freedoms Bill provides an historic opportunity to have a say about whose records should be on the DNA database and the fingerprint database and whose police records are kept.

Overall, the Bill is welcome because it requires the automatic deletion of innocent people’s records from the DNA and fingerprint databases, and the destruction of all DNA samples. However, there are some important changes that should be made to the Bill, including the deletion of innocent people’s police records at the same time as their DNA and fingerprint records.

Previously, people who were successful in having their DNA records deleted by writing to the chief constable would also have their police record deleted. This is important because police records of arrest can be used to refuse someone a visa or a job.

Public comments on the Bill are now closed: you can read what other people have said on this Government website.

You can still contact your MP: he or she will be voting on the Bill.

There is more information explaining what is in the Bill here.

Here are some suggestions for changes you can propose:

  • The most important omission from the Bill is that it does not require police records to be deleted at the same time as DNA and fingerprint records. This is a major concern because police records can be used to refuse someone a visa or a job. If you agree, you can tell your MP that records on the Police National Computer and Police National Database should be included in Clause 1 of the Bill.
  • Another controversial proposal in the Bill is that the police can keep anyone’s DNA and fingerprint records for reasons of national security. This can only be done for two years at a time but it can be renewed indefinitely. If you have concerns about this, you can tell your MP. It is Clause 9 of the Bill.
  • The Bill also treats people who have been given cautions, reprimands and warnings the same as people who have been convicted by a court. This means adults with a single caution and children with more than one reprimand or warning with have their records kept indefinitely. This is in Clause 18 of the Bill. An alternative suggestion could be a five-year retention time for cautions and two years for reprimands and warnings.
  • Clause 7 of the Bill removes the DNA and fingerprint records of children convicted of a single minor offence after 5 years. However, adults convicted of a single minor offence will have their records kept indefinitely. Similar rules could be applied to adults convicted of a single minor offence but that the retention time could be longer e.g. ten years for adults (compared to five years for children). If you agree or want to make an alternative suggestion, you can tell your MP.

You can of course make different proposals for changes if you wish.