DNA database 'should include all'

Tony Blair called yesterday for the national DNA database to be expanded to include every citizen.

He said there should be no limit on the development of the database because it was vital for catching serious criminals.

The Conservatives accused him of attempting to expand the DNA database by stealth and called for Parliament to vote on whether details of people who were innocent or not charged should be included against their wishes.

The Prime Minister said the public backed the extended use of DNA and urged police forces across the country to make use of technological advances to reopen thousands of unresolved "cold cases".

The national DNA database has expanded by about a third to 3.6 million profiles since the Criminal Justice Act 2003, which allowed police to take and keep DNA samples from everyone arrested for any imprisonable offence - regardless of whether they were eventually convicted.

The use of the new powers has proved controversial. Earlier this month, The Daily Telegraph reported that a grandmother who was arrested after a dispute with a neighbour was required to give a DNA sample. The case was later dropped for lack of evidence but her DNA will remain on the database.

The UK has the largest database in the world and is drawing attention from countries throughout Europe keen to learn from its experience.

It should not be included to include every citizen. Why should the government be allowed to hold our DNA? The government should never be allowed to have that much power.

Those that are not charged or are found innocent in court should not have their DNA on file. Only those that have been sent to jail for a legitimate offence should have their DNA on record. I don’t class calling Islam a “vile and wicked” faith a legitimate offence.

Labour is forever trying to find ways of snooping on the public. It’s time they should just piss off.