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Congleton Liberal DemocratsCampaigning all year round for the people of Congleton, Holmes Chapel, Alsager, Middlewich, Sandbach and surrounding areas. |
Illegal retention of DNA profiles - Letter to Congleton Chronicle
February 4, 2010 8:53 PM
Dear Sir,
![DNA Sample [Copyright: Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland]](/en/image/53s6RH/dna-sample-copyright-chief-constable-of-the-police-service-of-northern-ireland.png "DNA Sample [Copyright: Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland]")
Cheshire Police have added the DNA profile of 1,506 innocent individuals since the European Court of Human Rights ruled that this was illegal in December 2008. This is equivalent to four people a day; people who have done nothing wrong but are being treated as half-guilty. During the same time, they have failed to remove one single innocent person's from their records.
Despite this Labour Government's promise to obey the Court's ruling they are guilty themselves of neglect. These records can be kept by the police for up to six years. I always thought that one of the fundamental principles of justice in this country is that you are innocent until proven guilty.
This is part of a wider infringement of civil liberties instituted by this Government. These profiles could be a reason for questioning people caught by the increasing surveillance to which we are all subjected. It is easy to see how all this data could be misused when investigating crime or chasing government targets. Either you are innocent or guilty - there should be no half-way house.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Peter Hirst
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Congleton
Rushton Drive
Middlewich
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