Has no relation to this purveyor of authoritarian evil
The entire population of Britain — and every visitor — should be added to the national DNA database, a senior judge has argued.
Appeal Court judge, Lord Justice Stephen Sedley, said the database, which holds the DNA from millions of suspects and crime scenes, should be extended to all residents and even tourists, in the interests of fairness and crime prevention.
“Where we are at the moment is indefensible,” Sedley told BBC radio.
“Everybody, guilty or innocent, should expect their DNA to be on file for the absolutely rigorously restricted purpose of crime detection and prevention — and no other purpose.”
Sedley said he was aware his idea would be viewed as a dangerous breach of civil liberties.
“It is authoritarian measure to the extent that it demands people depart with some further measure of their autonomy and privacy and it has to be justified,” he added.
Home Office Minister Tony McNulty said there were no plans to make the database compulsory for all residents and visitors for the foreseeable future.
“But no-one ever says never,” he told BBC radio.
I hate to break it to Mr. McNulty, but here, on this issue, I will say never. No one, at any time, in any place, for any reason will get me to voluntarily give up a DNA sample for any reason involving a database.
Found at Samizdata