Tom Whitehead reports:
Officers will arrest individuals for “everything” because they then have to power to take DNA samples, even if they wouldn’t have been detained under other circumstances.
The Human Genetics Commission (HGC) warned the alarming practice, which was revealed by a retired senior police officer, was creating a “spiral of suspicion” over the DNA database.
In a major review of the system, it said police should no longer be allowed to automatically take DNA samples for everyone they arrest and called for new rules on when it was right to do so.
[…]
Chris Huhne, the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, said: “The Government’s cavalier attitude towards DNA retention has put us in the ridiculous situation where people are being arrested just to have their DNA harvested.”
James Brokenshire, the shadow home affairs minister, said: “Under Labour’s surveillance state everyone is treated as a potential suspect.”
Read more in the Telegraph.