Out of the DNA database and into the PNC

Public Service has reported on an investigation from The Observer that reveals that any innocent person who is able to get their DNA profile deleted from the national database, will still have their details stored on the Police National Computer (PNC).

According to the report,

Prior to the expansion of the DNA database, details were deleted on acquittal or if charges were dropped after 42 days. But according to the NDNAD's annual report in 2005 it has become necessary "to retain a nominal record of every person arrested for a recordable offence on the Police National Computer". The report said this would help police identify and locate people in their investigations.

This yet another example of the state's ever-present desire to gather as much information on its citizens as possible. Innocent people should not be on any police database, regardless of how useful or expedient having that data might be. Remember - you own your data. Not the state.

In addition, the PNC can be accessed by several thousands of police officers across the UK - with the capability for the data to be accessed by police forces in Europe, America and beyond - which makes it even less secure than the DNA database.

Big Brother Watch is concerned about the degree to which law enforcement is sliding towards guilty until proven innocent; and the repercussions we are witnessing for schemes like CCTV expansion, ID cards and state databases.

By Dylan Sharpe

Comments

[alastair]

Presumably the Police already kept records of these "recordable" offences anyway? So the only difference between the previous situation and the new situation is that they are searchable on the Police National Computer, rather than having to telephone round the country trying to find out which filing cabinet they have been misplaced in?

There's a difference between guilt and innocence and simply turning up in Police records, right?

FWIW, I agree that with the DNA database, there is a difference, namely that it was originally intended only to keep records of criminals' DNA (of course, in practice the definition of "criminal" is rather broader than perhaps people tend to believe, and includes all kinds of minor offences that perhaps it shouldn't in this context).

But surely the PNC is really just an electronic version of the old-fashioned paper records? And thereby a good way to save time and money?

[Paul]

I was arrested several times at peaceful demonstrations for public order offences, banned from the area, and eventually found to be not guilty. However, my information still exists on the PNC and I have to declare my arrests when applying for certain jobs. I am also exempt from even applying for a job within the police due to my arrests, even though I was found to be not guilty. As far as I'm concerned, we are already in the situation whereby if you get arrested you are considered guilty, and even if you are found not guilty, you are still considered guilty.