DNA database plans ready for public debate says ACPO lead

Chris Sims, also the new chief constable of West Midlands Police, told Police Review that the Home Office consultation document, entitled Keeping the Right People on the DNA Database is 'an attempt to balance the interests of public protection with the interests of personal liberty'.

The proposals, which are out for consultation until 8 August, have been made in response to a European Court of Human Rights ruling last year that the blanket policy in England and Wales of retaining indefinitely the fingerprints and DNA of all people who have been arrested for recordable offences but not convicted was in breach of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Article states that everyone has the right to respect for their private lives.

The Home Office is now suggesting adults arrested but not convicted for a recordable offence, which is not a serious, violent or sex- or terrorism-related offence, will have their profiles automatically deleted after six years and that adults arrested but not convicted for a serious violent or sexual offence or terrorism-related offence will have their profiles automatically deleted after 12 years.