Volconvo Debate Forums - View Single Post - English police want a children's DNA database

jrcbailey · Mar 22, 2008, 10:38 pm

I was thinking about setting up a debate to say that; 'there should be a DNA database including all residents of the UK', but then came across this one. As a resident of the UK I've read many of the news articles about the Governments proposals to introduce such a scheme, so have a few comments to make.

I've only skimmed the the rest of the forum, so I apologise if I ask questions or make any points that have already been addressed.

Firstly, the idea of introducing a database only for children aged 5 upwards that show criminal potential, is a terrible idea. As someone before effectively said, the childs' apparent early criminalization will probably result in a self fulfilling prophecy.

If we are going to introduce any DNA database, it is best to include the entire population in the scheme - after all, even the most unlikely of suspects is capable of committing a crime.

I believe that the pro's would far outweigh the con's. Of course the oppositions' main argument is the loss of their civil liberties, but the fact is that the Government has access to more of our personal information than we think. A good example is the one given in the "MI5 seeks powers to trawl records in new terror hunt" article on the previous page. As stated in the article, the security service can currently demand info of an individuals movements around London from their Oyster Card records.

Of course there are many other examples of how your location and actions can be tracked at present - credit cards, phone calls, Internet activity to name a few.

So why should we be worried about a DNA database, that would simply pin point our locations (at an unspecified moment in time, I might add), in order to determine whether or not we can be eliminated from the Polices investigations?

I personally (as a UK resident) have no problem with it, along with the majority (80% approx.) of the people I have discussed the subject with. The primary reason I don't have a problem with it is because I have nothing to hide, and if I have nothing to hide, I have nothing to fear.

The second (most obvious, and probably most important) reason I am in favour of it, are the protective benefits of the scheme. Of course it would assist in solving future, existing and previously unsolved crimes, but it would also act as an effective deterrent.

Mar 22, 2008, 10:38 pm	#28 (permalink) (top)
jrcbailey Molten Ash Location: Surrey, England Posts: 27	I was thinking about setting up a debate to say that; 'there should be a DNA database including all residents of the UK', but then came across this one. As a resident of the UK I've read many of the news articles about the Governments proposals to introduce such a scheme, so have a few comments to make. I've only skimmed the the rest of the forum, so I apologise if I ask questions or make any points that have already been addressed. Firstly, the idea of introducing a database only for children aged 5 upwards that show criminal potential, is a terrible idea. As someone before effectively said, the childs' apparent early criminalization will probably result in a self fulfilling prophecy. If we are going to introduce any DNA database, it is best to include the entire population in the scheme - after all, even the most unlikely of suspects is capable of committing a crime. I believe that the pro's would far outweigh the con's. Of course the oppositions' main argument is the loss of their civil liberties, but the fact is that the Government has access to more of our personal information than we think. A good example is the one given in the "MI5 seeks powers to trawl records in new terror hunt" article on the previous page. As stated in the article, the security service can currently demand info of an individuals movements around London from their Oyster Card records. Of course there are many other examples of how your location and actions can be tracked at present - credit cards, phone calls, Internet activity to name a few. So why should we be worried about a DNA database, that would simply pin point our locations (at an unspecified moment in time, I might add), in order to determine whether or not we can be eliminated from the Polices investigations? I personally (as a UK resident) have no problem with it, along with the majority (80% approx.) of the people I have discussed the subject with. The primary reason I don't have a problem with it is because I have nothing to hide, and if I have nothing to hide, I have nothing to fear. The second (most obvious, and probably most important) reason I am in favour of it, are the protective benefits of the scheme. Of course it would assist in solving future, existing and previously unsolved crimes, but it would also act as an effective deterrent.