The idea of creating a giant database containing DNA samples of the entire population of the country, as well as visitors to the British Isles, immediately gained both ardent supporters and equally ardent opponents. Sir Stephen himself, who is a member of the House of Lords and one of the leading experts on civil rights, hardly intended to cause such a storm in society. He merely said that the current DNA database, which contains information about people who have been suspected of crimes over the years, is untenable. In his opinion, it would be much fairer to collect data on everyone, regardless of whether a person has had problems with the law or not.
The creation of a DNA database in the UK began 12 years ago after the passage of a corresponding law. Samples are taken from suspects and at crime scenes. The database grows by 30,000 samples each month and provides great assistance to the police in timely crime detection. UK Deputy Home Secretary Tony McNulty claims that the database, which currently contains DNA of four million people, has repeatedly helped in finding criminals, and the number of crimes solved with its help reaches 20,000 per year.
However, human rights organizations are extremely dissatisfied. They particularly note that the database mainly includes representatives of ethnic minorities. Currently, it contains DNA of 5.2% of the country's population. At the same time, it already includes data on 40% of black men and 13% of people of Asian origin living in the United Kingdom, and only 9% of whites.
As Dr. Helen Wallace from the public organization 'GeneWatch UK' said, those who once enter this database remain in it forever: 'Including people whose guilt has not been proven. Subsequently, they usually cannot remove their genetic information.' According to the human rights activist, the universal database proposed by Judge Sedley would give the state and intelligence agencies absolute control over citizens. Moreover, it is not immune to errors and information leaks: 'Imagine what could happen if tomorrow this database falls into the hands of thieves or terrorists!'
'I agree - no one is immune to various kinds of glitches,' said Ian Johnston, representative of the Association of Chief Police Officers. 'However, I would like to remind that our organization has long raised the issue of the need to create such a database. It will not only make it possible to solve crimes faster but also minimize investigative errors, thus reducing the number of unjustly convicted people. As for concerns about 'total control' of citizens by the state, opinion polls show that 80% of respondents are ready to provide DNA in exchange for increased personal security.'
On Downing Street, they say that the government currently has no plans to create a national DNA database. However, this issue is being discussed, and a final decision will be made in the spring of next year. Given the reverence with which the British regard the opinions of their independent judges, Sir Stephen's proposal will not go unnoticed. It is quite possible that soon liberal Britain will become the first country in the world with universal DNA registration.