DNA database found to breach rights

The UK police practice of holding DNA profiles of people who are innocent of crimes has been condemned by the European Court of Human Rights.

In a ruling on Thursday, the ECHR found that two British citizens' DNA and fingerprints should not have been retained by the South Yorkshire Police, the BBC reports.

People arrested on suspicion of crimes in the UK currently have their DNA and finfgerprints retained, regardless of whether they are charged by police or found innocent by a court.

However, in the case of Michael Marper and a teenager identitified as "S", the court found that the retention had breached their human rights.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was quoted as being "disappointed" by the decision.

From the article:

'Solicitor Peter Mahy, who represented the men, said that the decision will have far-reaching implications.

"It will be very interesting to see how the UK government respond. The government should now start destroying the DNA records of those people who are currently on the DNA database and who are innocent of any crime."'