September 5, 2007

Everyone’s DNA on a computer database

A judge has demanded that the whole population of the UK should have their DNA sample on the National DNA Database.

Lord Justice Sedley has said that by everyone’s DNA on the National Database would fairer, instead of the way that it is being compiled at the moment. Anyone who is arrested whether they are later found guilty or not has a sample of their DNA taken and then added to the database.

The database is nearly twelve years and only has around four million samples on it, the police add around 30,000 per month but according to the judge this is not good enough. Yet this is already the largest computerised DNA database in the world.

The problem appears to be in the fact that the database is made up as follows, 40% of all black men, 13% of all Asian men and finally just 9% of white men. It is these figures from Home Office statistics are not fair and show discrimination.

Maybe we will be getting bar codes across the back of our necks soon!

Source [BBC News]

Filed Under Databases