Contents
Information about Civil Liberties Panel: The National DNA Database (NDNAD) and the use of DNA in policing
Warning: This is archived material and may be out of date. The Metropolitan Police Authority has been replaced by the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPC).
See the MOPC website for further information.
The National DNA Database (NDNAD) and the use of DNA in policing
The Civil Liberties Panel focused its second report on the National DNA Database and the use of DNA within policing. This MPA scrutiny commenced as political, media, public and civil libertarian concern has intensified. In December 2008 the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled that the blanket and indiscriminate retention of DNA in England and Wales is in breach of Article 8 of the ECHR, the Right to Privacy. The previous government responded to the ECtHR ruling via the Crime and Security Bill 2009, now the Crime and Security Act 2010. In February 2011, the current government introduced the Protection of Freedoms Bill which sets out to balance civil liberties and the protection of the public, and in doing so address the issue outlined above.
The MPA Civil Liberties panel interviewed Senior Metropolitan Police Officers and representatives of the Association of Chief Police Officers. The Panel also held meetings with Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC). The Forensic Science Regulator, the National DNA Database Ethics Group and the National DNA Database Custodian (NPIA). They also carried out a series of visits to the Custodian at Birmingham, to the MPS Central DNA clearing House in Clapham, to a forensic laboratory in South West London and to the Custody Suite at Charing Cross.
The most important part of this review was for the MPA to hear from you, the public about your views and experiences of this issue. To this end we held a public meeting, invited written submissions and conducted an online survey which in total attracted over 600 responses. Thank you to everyone who took part in our consultation process.
The final report has been published and a PDF version is available below. Please contact the MPA if you would like a hardcopy version.
The use of DNA in policing timetable
- 26 March 2010 - Introduction to DNA issues - Meeting with MPS director of forensics
- 12 May 2010 - Panel meeting to discuss the use of DNA - A police perspective
- 16 June 2010 - Panel visit to MPS Central Clearing House for DNA
- 1 July 2010 - Open meeting to hear from the public
- 13 July 2010 - Panel visit to National DNA Database Custodian
- 13 October 2010 - Panel meeting with HMIC regarding custody suite inspections
- 21 October 2010 - Panel visit to Charing Cross custody suite
- 5 November 2010 - Panel visit to DNA laboratory
- 8 November 2010 - Panel meeting with the Forensics Science Regulator and the National DNA Database (NDNAD) Ethics Group Chair
- 8 December 2010 - Closed panel meeting
Send an e-mail linking to this page
Feedback