Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by David Howarth (Liberal Democrat). It was answered on Thursday, 20 March 2008 on behalf of the Solicitor General.

Crown Prosecution Service

Question: Does that incident not illustrate a more important point about the use of the DNA database? If reports are to be believed, the incident came about because the Crown Prosecution Service could not cover the absence of a prosecutor. Does that not show that resources would be better spent on using the data that we already have more efficiently and effectively, than on endlessly expanding the DNA database to include more and more innocent people, who have less and less likelihood of being involved in crime?

Answer: We are determined to use the DNA database in the most effective way, so that it can stamp out crime that would otherwise not be detected. If that is not how the Liberal Democrats see an appropriate criminal justice policy going forward, so be it. The hon. Gentleman's factual basis for his question is wrong. He, too, must wait until he has a little bit more knowledge than the tiny amount that he has at present.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 473 c1070
Session: 2007-08
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Subjects: Databases Crime Genetics International cooperation Netherlands Crown Prosecution Service
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk