DNA RULES KEEP RETENTION LEVELS LOW

DNA RULES KEEP RETENTION LEVELS LOW

UK LABOUR RETAIN DNA ON 300,000 CHILDREN

SCOTTISH DNA FIGURES FAR LOWER THAN ENGLISH EQUIVALENT

SNP MSP Nigel Don today said he is encouraged by figures showing the retention of DNA on the Scottish DNA database from under 18s is far lower than in England and Wales.

The European Court recently ruled that the system operated by the UK Government was a breach of human rights and praised the Scottish system as the model for other administrations to follow.

In England and Wales samples are held from 320,841 under 18s or 3% of the whole under 18 population. In contrast only 1167 samples of under 18s, equal to 0.1% of all Scotland’s young people are held in Scotland.

As the figures, released in a Parliamentary Answer show DNA in Scotland can only be held for those awaiting trial on an imprisonable offence and can only be retained if the individual is convicted or for up to two years in the cases of those charged with violent or sexual offences if not convicted.

Justice Committee member Nigel Don said the fact Scotland had a far lower proportion of DNA retained from young people was a sign the Scottish system was protecting the public and protecting civil liberties.

Mr Don said;

“These figures show that Scotland’s system of DNA retention is working to protect human rights and to ensure we are able to track those responsible for crimes in our society.

“In contrast the figures for England and Wales expose the real problems of Labour’s approach to criminal justice and emphasise Scotland’s success in finding the right balance between protecting the public from crime and protecting their human rights.

“Being able to identify violent offenders is important but a database containing the details of those who were children when they offended removes any prospect of real rehabilitation or recovery.

“Issues of DNA retention must be kept under regular review, though these figures show the Scottish system is working well to retain DNA only where it is appropriate.”