Written question asked by Lord Field of Birkenhead (Labour) on Wednesday, 10 December 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 15 December 2008. It was answered by Alan Campbell (Labour) on Tuesday, 13 January 2009 on behalf of the Home Office.

Genetics: Databases

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances an individual's DNA profile may be deleted from the national DNA database.

Answer: [holding answer 15 December 2008]: Under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE), the police have the power indefinitely to retain profiles on the National DNA Database (NDNAD) derived from samples taken from persons arrested for a recordable offence and detained in a police station, regardless of whether they are charged or convicted.While the decision on whether to agree to a request from an individual to have their DNA profile removed from the NDNAD lies with the chief officer of the police force which took the sample, profiles will normally be retained unless there are exceptional circumstances.Policy on the retention of DNA and fingerprint records is being reviewed in light of the Judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of S and Marper. The Government will consider their response to the Judgment in conjunction with the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers and a Government White Paper on Forensics will be published next year on proposals to implement the Judgment.

Secondary information