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Home Office

Answer

Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response the Government have made to the Human Genetics Commission's recommendations in their report, Inside Information, of May 2002, that (a) the Government should promote a greater degree of dialogue about the justification for the apparent increase in the range of offences for which DNA samples may be taken, (b) the Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers establish an independent body, including lay membership, to oversee the work of the national DNA database custodian and the profile suppliers and (c) consideration be given to the creation of a criminal offence of the non-consensual or deceitful obtaining and analysis of personal genetic information for non-medical purposes. [106913] Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Government response to the main recommendations of the Human Genetics Commission report will be published shortly. This response will address the issues raised by my hon. Friend at points (b) and (c). Under the provisions of section 63 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, the police may take non- intimate DNA samples from all those charged with, informed they will be reported for, or convicted of a recordable offence. The police may also take a non- intimate sample from those suspected of a recordable offence where there are grounds for believing the sample will tend to confirm or disprove the suspect's involvement. There are no plans to amend the category of offences for which a non-intimate sample may be taken. A recordable offence is one set out in the National Police Records (Recordable Offences) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000 No. 1139).

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

106913; 403 c209-10W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Databases Crime Genetics Identification of criminals Human Genetics Commission

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk