Written question asked by David Ruffley (Conservative) on Monday, 31 March 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 2 April 2008. It was answered by Meg Hillier (Labour) on Monday, 21 April 2008 on behalf of the Home Office.

Genetics: Databases

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make a statement on retention of DNA profiles collected by the police from individuals.

Answer: The taking and retention of DMA samples are subject to the provisions contained in Part V of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984. PACE provides that samples may be retained for persons who have been arrested and detained at the police station for a recordable offence; and that profiles taken from these samples and placed on the database may be subject to speculative search. We consider that is a proportionate and effective threshold to help eliminate the innocent during the course of an investigation as well contributing to the detection and conviction of the guilty.

Secondary information