DNA innocents have their rights breached

More than 600 DNA profiles of innocent people across Greater Manchester are being added to the national database for every one removed.

Figures from the Liberal Democrats show 4,981 profiles of innocent people across the region were added since December 2008 when a court ruled the Government’s policy was in breach of human rights.

Since the ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, only eight innocent people in Greater Manchester have had their profiles removed.

Liberal Democrat shadow cabinet office minister, Jenny Willott said: “It is appalling that the Government has taken the DNA of 100,000 innocent people, nationally, since they were told the practice was illegal.

“Despite the Government’s promises to abide by the European Court’s ruling, it is still doing everything it can to avoid it.

“Labour’s cynical proposals will create a half-guilty class of people with their most intimate personal information held by the police for six years — even though they have done nothing wrong.

“This is a gross distortion of one of the fundamental principles of this country — that you are innocent until proven guilty.”

Nationally 487,340 profiles have been added to the database since the ruling, including 101,367 innocent people — the equivalent of 282 a day.

In that same period, only 400 people have been successfully removed from the database

The Home Office says DNA is a vital crime fighting tool and providing the police with a lead on the possible identity of the offender.

Between April 1998 and September 2008 it is claimed 390,000 crimes have been solved with the use of the DNA database.