Written question asked by Chris Huhne (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 14 October 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 16 October 2009. It was answered by Alan Johnson (Labour) on Tuesday, 27 October 2009 on behalf of the Home Office.

DNA: Databases

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people now aged over 10 years old on the national DNA database had their profile added to the database when they were under the age of 10; and how many were in each age group under 10 years old at the time their profile was added.

Answer: Government policy is that English and Welsh police forces should not hold profiles of children under 10 on the national DNA database (NDNAD). Following the announcement of this policy on 16 December 2008, profiles of all those who were under 10 at the time a DNA sample was taken from them were removed, regardless of whether their current age was under or over 10. The national DNA database is regularly monitored to confirm that this policy remains in effect.

Secondary information