DNA OK?

I’m still buzzing from my glorious result on political compass and thought it was time to exercise some liberal outrage.

This week, my sights are set on Lord Judge Sedley, the noted “upholder of civil liberties on the bench” who caused a bit of a stir recently after claiming that the current DNA database was “indefensible” as it listed a higher proportion of ethnic minorities than whites. To remedy the situation, Sedley proposed, everyones DNA should go on file, which would not only redress the balance but would also mean there were less criminals on the street.

While Downing Street was quick to distance itself from Sedley’s comments, what has emerged is the extent to which current DNA collection procedures violate civil liberties, as well as Home Office plans to extend DNA collection to low-level offences such as speeding or littering. As the current database holds some 24,000 records of 10 – 17 year olds who have never been convicted of an offence, under the plans proposed it's not difficult to see the database, which currently holds around 5% of the UK population, expanding rapidly. What's more, it probably wouldn't be long until police started takind DNA samples at random checkpoints and from arbitrary searches, (no doubt under the guise of counterterrorism) none of which they would be obliged to destroy.

DNA identification is still very much in its infancy, but an enlarged database and more sophisticated methods of gathering samples could potentially be used to devasting effect, providing a unique profile of a persons movements and associations.

Combine this with ID Cards and CCTV Cameras and you have in place the apparatus of control Stalin would be envious of.