UK supports sharing of police DNA database

Plans to implement an EU-based police database comprising DNA details and information about criminals have been welcomed by the UK.

The Prüm Treaty is looking at stepping up cross-border police co-operation, with the stated aim of particularly combating terrorism, cross border crime and illegal migration.

The aim is to allow agencies and law enforcement authorities in the EU member states, which have signed the Convention, to search one another's databases.

This would give them access to DNA records, fingerprints, vehicle details and other personal information. These agencies could also ask local law enforcement to collect samples where none currently exist.

Austria and Germany, the core members of Prüm, opened their police DNA databases to one another in December 2006 and widening the scheme has been welcomed by the Council of the European Union.

It has said it wants to bring the major parts of the Prüm Treaty within EU law. If this happened it would mean combining criminal information from member states including the UK and is a move supported by the UK Home Office.

A Home Office said: "Although the UK is not currently implementing the treaty at this point, if it was to become law then the UK will be happy to support it. This is because the treaty will improve access to criminal data and help with employment issues."

However, the plans were criticised by civil liberties group, No2ID.

Phil Booth, No2ID national co-ordinator for the group told Computeractive that giving foreign authorities direct access to the personal information of UK citizens would hand control to a pan-European body.

He said: "This is a giant leap in the wrong direction. Allowing foreign authorities direct access to the personal information of UK citizens is entirely different from formal data-sharing between countries.

"Automated access will set systems in place for 'fishing expeditions' by third parties, rather than requiring warrants - as is entirely appropriate - for the handing over of any information held on named individuals.

"It is ludicrous to claim that we need to strengthen our physical borders while tearing down the electronic barriers that go with them. What this country needs is solid electronic borders, and a government that will protect its citizens' personal information and privacy rather than handing
it away to unaccountable third parties in foreign countries."