The Police National DNA Database: Balancing Crime Detection, Human Rights and Privacy A Report by GeneWatch UK The Police National DNA Database: Balancing Crime Detection, Human Rights and Privacy. A Report for GeneWatch UK by Kristina Staley January 2005 The Mill House, Manchester Road, Tideswell, Buxton Derbyshire, SK17 8LN, UK GeneWatch Phone: 01287 871898 Fax: 01298 872531 E-mail:
[email protected] UK Website: www.genewatch.org Acknowledgements GeneWatch would like to thank Jan van Aken, Sarah Sexton and Paul Johnson for their helpful comments on a draft of this report. Kristina Staley would also like to thank Val Sales for her help in preparing the report. The content of the final report remains the responsibility of GeneWatch UK. Cover photograph DNA genetic fingerprinting on fingerprint blue backdrop. © Adam Hart-Davis, http://www.adam-hart-davis.org/ GeneWatch UK 2 January 2005 Contents 1 Executive summary ................................................................................................................5 2 Introduction...........................................................................................................................10 3 What is the National DNA Database?..................................................................................11 3.1 Using DNA to identify individuals...................................................................................11 3.2 How the police use DNA................................................................................................12 3.3 Concerns