DNA database

12.02.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 7th Sep 2009

Dear Khalid Mahmood,

I am sure you are aware that the government's DNA database holder recently revealed that 298 young people on the streets of Britain have DNA samples taken from them every single day, and placed on the database.

The National Policing Improvement Agency, responding to a Freedom of Information Act request said that it now holds over 1 million DNA samples from young people. The DNA samples, taken from children as young as ten years old, have been kept regardless of whether or not the children were convicted of any crime.

I am sure you will agree with me that storing the DNA of thousands of innocent young people as young as ten is unlikely to solve our crime problems. The police should have no right to store DNA belonging to children who have not been convicted of any crime.

The DNA database treats hundred of thousands of young people as suspects for life. Their DNA could be used to track them or their relatives or to reveal private genetic information.

I hope that you will lobby the government to change the law so that the DNA of innocent young people (those who are either not charged or who are later acquitted) is removed from the national DNA database.

Yours sincerely,

Adam Teladia