UK DNA database continues to grow

The DNA profiles of thousands of people have been added to the national database since a European court ruled the UK system illegal last December.

Recent figures released by the Home Office show that around 40,000 people per month have been added to the list.

The Conservative party has now renewed its attack on the Government’s controversial DNA database, which is already the largest in the world with over five million profiles.

Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling accused the Government of "dragging its feet" on the matter.

"The Government still doesn't seem to get it about the DNA database. It is clearly illegal to maintain the records of innocent people, but they are dragging their feet in dealing with the problem," he said.

A Home Office spokesperson rebutted the allegation and said: "Those who have been added to the DNA database since the judgment would have been in relation to alleged offences. Those who are subsequently convicted will remain on the DNA database."

This continued build up of the database without removing the profiles of people who have not been convicted of a crime ignores a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights.

In December 2008 it said that if a person has not been convicted of an offence they are "entitled to the presumption of innocence". The court went on to say that the UK Government’s retention of DNA details breaches article eight of the Human Rights Convention.

Soon after the Government said children under the age of 10 will no longer have their DNA stored on the national database. The then Home Secretary Jacqui Smith conceded that it was inappropriate to do this as children of this age are below the age of criminal responsibility. Around 70 children are believed to have had their profiles removed immediately.

But in May this year the Government was accused of trying to sidestep the court’s ruling with new proposals for DNA retention.

The Conservative Party claimed it would adopt a system similar to that in Scotland, where DNA records of those not convicted of an offence are only retained if the charges relate to a violent or sexual crime.

In these cases, DNA profiles can be retained for a maximum of five years, subject to judicial oversight, said the Conservatives.

The Home Office said that the DNA of innocent people would be removed in due course when the legislation is changed to comply with the EU judgment