Government store DNA of over 6 million

04 March 2011

More than 6 million DNA profiles have been entered on the National DNA Database since it was created, Home Office minister James Brokenshire said, as he revealed details of how many profiles individual forces had submitted.

In total he said 6,074,433 DNA profiles were stored on the database by the end of 2010, but that an estimated 1,083,207 of these profiles were from people without "a current conviction, caution, formal warning or reprimand".

Of the 43 police forces who submitted profiles to the DNA database, the highest came from the Metropolitan Police which submitted 1,041,896 profiles. The fewest came from the City of London force, who submitted 27,618 profiles.

The government has said it intends to end the indefinite storage of DNA profiles from innocent people.

But plans to not hold the data of those who are arrested for rape, but who are then not charged, were recently challenged by Labour, who said such data helped to convict rapists.

"They are going too far in restricting the use of DNA from suspects who have been arrested," said shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper.

"Of course there must be safeguards in the system, but sensible use of DNA also helps catch very dangerous criminals and prevents innocent people being wrongly charged too."