New Figures Show 65,000 DNA Profiles Collected in Norfolk

8.20.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 9th Sep 2008

Figures newly released by the Home Office reveal that over 65,000 DNA profiles of people in Norfolk are being held on the national DNA database.

The figures also reveal that there are now more than 4million people nationally whose DNA is being stored. Of these, around 1 million are innocent of any crime. The Home Office has also revealed that the details of nearly 40,000 children innocent of any crime are on the database.

Liberal Democrats are calling for DNA profiles to be removed where the individual is innocent of any crime.

Simon Wright, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Norwich South, said:

"There is no case for keeping the profiles of innocent adults, let alone children, on the database. Thousands of people in Norfolk who have been charged with no offence have their details stored, and yet many others who are guilty of crimes and who are serving jail sentences are not on the database. That cannot be right."

"We know that some private companies have been given access to the DNA database without the permission of those whose details are stored on it. We know also that the Government has shown massive incompetence in keeping other personal details secure. CDs, laptops and memory sticks containing our data simply go missing on a regular basis. The Government cannot be trusted to look after our details. If DNA profiles are misplaced, then that is something that people would have to live with for ever. Bank account details can be changed - DNA cannot."

"If, despite these dangers, the Government does want to introduce a national DNA database for all then it should be open and honest about that and have that debate with the public rather than introduce it by stealth. On the other hand, if the Government wants the database to be limited to criminals then it should destroy the information of the one million innocent adults and children that it is holding."