Britain’s DNA Database Undermines Civil Rights
As of January this year, the UK had DNA samples on 7% of its citizens and as 2006 nears the end, over 3.6 million profiles have been collected. The DNA database has samples from:
- Anyone who has ever been arrested by the police, even if not charged
- Victims of crime
- Anyone who have volunteered a sample to help a criminal investigation
Professor Alec Jeffreys believes that the database has the potential to undermine civil rights especially because it is “skewed socioeconomically and ethnically.”
The Telegraph reports that 77% of young black British men have a profile in the DNA database in contrast to 22% of young white males and 6% of the general population. Government data show that when there is no DNA evidence, only 26% of cases are solved but when there is a DNA sample, 40% of cases are solved. That begs the question: What percent of crime is committed by each ethnic group?
NB: The Nuffield Council on Bioethics is soliciting people’s views on the ethical issues surrounding the forensic use of bioinformation.
Wired, November 2, 2006
Photo credit: California Attorney General, Missing Persons DNA Database
Technorati Tags: law, crime, dna database, uk, genetics, genes, dna, dna samples
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POSTED IN: General Genetics and Health, Genetics: Legislation, Policies, Ethics, Law
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6 opinions for Britain’s DNA Database Undermines Civil Rights
sean
Nov 5, 2006 at 4:59 pm
testing…
Hsien Lei
Nov 5, 2006 at 4:59 pm
test
Hsien Lei
Nov 5, 2006 at 5:04 pm
it’s a testing party!
Genetics and Health » DNA Sample Before Conviction Not Mandated
Nov 19, 2006 at 2:29 pm
[...] Seems like the Americans might be more progressive when it comes to the DNA privacy. The UK has been creating a database that includes DNA data from anyone who has ever been arrested even if not charged, victims of crime, and volunteers. Has a similar case turned up in UK courts? [...]
Genetics and Health » All Your DNA are Belong to The State
Dec 11, 2006 at 11:23 pm
[...] One of the largest DNA databases in the world is in the UK where almost 7% of citizens have DNA samples on file. And now commander Dave Johnston, Britain’s “most senior murder investigator,” says that DNA should be taken from both criminals and people arrested but not charged, and also from babies, immigrants, anyone renewing their passports, and the recent dead. That pretty much covers everyone, doesn’t it? We have 300,000 unsolved cases where we have taken a profile at a crime scene but have not yet matched it. [...]
british collects dna of Blacks and others-largest DNA bank in the world - Abibitumi Kasa Afrikan Language and Liberation Institutes and Community Networks
Jun 12, 2008 at 2:31 pm
[...] british collects dna of Blacks and others-largest DNA bank in the world Below you will find an article on the british government collecting DNA of its’ citizens- The british have the largest DNA database in the world. So you can see, I hope, that the war against, and to control, Afrikan people is worldwide-and every other group on the planet is in on the program. We are the only ones who don’t know WHAT’S REALLY UP!!! If you get a chance, track down a bbc story today, 6/12/08, about a british minister resigning-because he believes someone has to stand up against this bio-control of citizens- he also says the government is taking and collecting retina images of citizens and this is well beyond the authority of the government and an infringement on rights. ************************************************** ********** As of January this year, the UK had DNA samples on 7% of its citizens and as 2006 nears the end, over 3.6 million profiles have been collected. The DNA database has samples from: Anyone who has ever been arrested by the police, even if not charged Victims of crime Anyone who have volunteered a sample to help a criminal investigation Professor Alec Jeffreys believes that the database has the potential to undermine civil rights especially because it is “skewed socioeconomically and ethnically.” The Telegraph reports that 77% of young black British men have a profile in the DNA database in contrast to 22% of young white males and 6% of the general population. Government data show that when there is no DNA evidence, only 26% of cases are solved but when there is a DNA sample, 40% of cases are solved. That begs the question: What percent of crime is committed by each ethnic group? NB: The Nuffield Council on Bioethics is soliciting people’s views on the ethical issues surrounding the forensic use of bioinformation. Britain’s DNA Database Undermines Civil Rights [...]
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