Police told to ignore human rights ruling over DNA database

Chief constables across England and Wales have been told to ignore a landmark ruling by the European court of human rights and carry on adding the DNA profiles of tens of thousands of innocent people to a national DNA database.

Senior police officers have also been “strongly advised” that it is “vitally important” that they resist individual requests based on the Strasbourg ruling to remove DNA profiles from the national database in cases such as wrongful arrest, mistaken identity, or where no crime has been committed.

Read more in The Guardian.

It’s not clear how the letter described in the news story from ACPO is consistent with a June 21 story on how the incoming ACPO chief, Sir Hugh Orde, wants more emphasis on human rights.