- Target:
- Essex Police Authority
- Region:
- United Kingdom
- Website:
- www.genewatch.org
The UK police now have more DNA samples than any other country. Over 7% of the UK's population is on the National DNA database.
Although the assumption is that by holding the DNA profiles of more individuals on the database, more crimes will be solved, there is no evidence to support this. However, evidence of abuse of the information held on the police database is increasing, including its use for controversial genetic research without consent.
In Scotland the law is different and DNA cannot be kept permanently from innocent people.
About a million people who have not been convicted of any offence, including at least a hundred thousand children, are now on the National DNA Database.
Keeping innocent people's DNA profiles on a Database permanently is an infringement of fundamental human rights.
We, the undersigned, petition that Essex police Authority request that the Chief Constable of Essex destroy all DNA, fingerprints, and photograph samples taken from innocent people, i.e. people that have been arrested but have not been found guilty in a court of law, and that Essex police Authority request that Essex police no longer take DNA samples on arrest but only when a person is charged.
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The Reclaim your DNA petition to Essex Police Authority was written by reclaimyourDNA and is in the category Human Rights at GoPetition.