“Sheer Practicality” – sheer madness on DNA

The second reading of the Crime and Security Bill got underway on Monday, with Home Secretary Alan Johnson facing contempt from all quarters regarding government plans for the retention of the DNA profiles of innocent people on the national database.

Johnson began by extolling the virtues of the DNA database, claiming that it “has actually been a contributory factor to the astonishing reductions in crime achieved in this country.” The facts, however, provide underwhelming support.

Thankfully, Mr Johnson did address the issue of privacy, stating that “many people find the idea of someone retaining their genetic material disturbing, which is why, this Bill will require all DNA samples – namely, the actual genetic material – to be destroyed after six months. What is retained by the database is the unique 20-digit code that forms the DNA profile.”

Before attending the launch of Big Brother Watch, Conservative MP David Davis was present in the chamber and invoked the example of David Sweeney. In 2004, Mr Sweeney was assaulted by two other men and arrested on a charge of affray, which was then dropped when it became clear that he was not at fault.

Two months ago, however, Mr Sweeney reports that he “dropped a friend off at Manchester Airport and double parked. On returning to my car the police had arrived and given me a ticket. They asked if I was ‘known to the police’ and I said no, having no criminal record. But when they then heard over the radio that I was on the DNA database, they treated me with total contempt—as if I were a serious criminal. ‘You lied to us’, they said. ‘You're on the database. So you’ve obviously done something wrong’”— an interesting assumption— “‘what are you trying to conceal now.’ Sadly, this case is far from unique.

At one point, clearly frustrated by the contempt shown for DNA profiling, Mr Johnson claimed that "after all DNA is a British invention" – granted, we boast an admirable scientific heritage, but our legal system, with those long-forgotten treasures such as Habeas Corpus, is also to be admired.

It was at this point that Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Grayling, asked the pertinent question as to why the government are not proposing a compulsory DNA database for the whole nation. To which the Home Secretary, horrifyingly replied “so far as I am aware, only one country is currently looking at that possibility: the United Arab Emirates. For reasons of sheer practicality, no Government of any persuasion in this country would introduce such a scheme.”

So there we have it: "sheer practicality" is all that stands between our current situation and the biometric data of every man, woman and child in Britain catalogued on a government database. Moreover, the 20-digit code is as close an approximation to the ‘actual genetic material’ as is possible. This is poor trickery by the government; the infringements upon our privacy remain in full view.

By Edward Hockings

- – UPDATE – -

There is a full transcript of Chris Grayling's comments to the House available on Conservative Home and is well worth a read.

Meanwhile, from the same debate, David Davies MP (the Tory MP for Monmouth not to be confused with the terrific Davis) caught the eye of Alex Massie at the Spectator. Proving that not all the Tory MPs are singing from the same hymn sheet on civil liberties.