The DNA database held by authorities in Britain will not be multiplying further. The European court of human rights has ruled that retention of such profiles is unlawful.
More than 1.6 million records may now be destroyed.
The court also observed that the UK was the only one of the 47 members of the Council of Europe to permit the "systematic and indefinite" retention of DNA samples, reported the BBC’s news website.
The case
The ruling is a victory for two Britons who went to court seven years ago. Both Michael Marper, 45, and a 19-year-old man from Sheffield were charged in 2001. One for robbery at age 11 and the other for harassing his partner.
The police retained their DNA information.
The 17 judges decided that Britain had not respected the right to private life in this matter. Both of them were awarded 42,000 euros each in expenses.
Peter Mahy, the solicitor who represented both men told The Times newspaper that the result was a “fantastic result after a seven-year hard-fought battle against the UK Government”.
Undemocratic
"The court was struck by the blanket and indiscriminate nature of the power of retention," Reuters reported.
The judges of the court have been quoted in the Guardian as saying that this is "Could not be regarded as necessary in a democratic society".
Rights activists welcomed the verdict.
"The DNA profiles of roughly 85,000 innocent people should be taken off the National DNA Database," campaign group Liberty said in a statement to Reuters news agency.
Government response
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was reportedly disappointed by the ruling.
She told Bloomberg news agency that the "DNA and fingerprinting is vital to the fight against crime, providing the police with more than 3,500 matches a month”.
A spokesman for the National Policing Improvement Agency, which manages the database, told the Telegraph newspaper that, "The National DNA Database is a key information tool which has revolutionised the way the police can protect the public through identifying offenders and securing more convictions.”
The judgment is largely perceived to be a huge setback for the Government and police.
Where from here?
Now, the government has until March to implement the ruling.
They cannot appeal against it and will have to propose a plan. Till then, the records will not be removed from the database.
In Scotland information related with the DNA of a person is kept on the database for three years if a he/ she has been acquitted of a serious assault or sex crime.
This is the model that many are expecting the government to consider very closely.
Showing posts with label Jacqui Smith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jacqui Smith. Show all posts
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
Sorry, we are not sorry: Smith refuses to apologise for Greengate
The divisions in the cabinet, police and House of commons are not apparent over the arrest of Shadow Immigration Secretary, Damian Green. The Financial Times is reporting on the role of the speaker and action police chief moving into focus because of the matter.
Meanwhile the newspaper has said that Jacqui Smith the home secretary yesterday denied endorsing the methods used by the police.
The row over the arrest of Damian Green, shadow immigration secretary, has put the actions of the Commons Speaker, the acting Metropolitan police commissioner and ministers in the spotlight.
The newspaper quoted Harriet Harman, leader of the House, saying that the case “raised serious constitutional questions that needed to be addressed”.
Ms Harman pledged to hold an inquiry after the investigation was complete.
“MPs should be able to get on with their job without interference of the law,” she said.
Green’s arrest
Police told the BBC that Mr Green was held on suspicion of "conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office". Media reports suggest that the politician was picked up for receiving leaked documents.
The MP denied any wrongdoing and said "opposition politicians have a duty to hold the government to account" and that he would "continue to do so".
He was questioned, but has not been charged and was bailed until February.
Mr Green's arrest is believed to be connected to the arrest of a man suspected of being a Home Office whistleblower, the Telegraph said in a report.
Speaking to reporters including those from the BBC, outside the House of Commons, Mr Green said: "I was astonished to have spent more than nine hours today under arrest for doing my job.
"I emphatically deny I have done anything wrong. I have many times made public information that the government wanted to keep secret - information that the public has a right to know.
"In a democracy, opposition politicians have a duty to hold the government to account. I was elected to the House of Commons precisely to do that and I certainly intend to continue doing so."
Political fallout
The fallout of all this could be severe, especially for two rival politicians. Jacqui Smith, the Home secretary and Michael Martin, the speaker of the House of Commons.
Newspaper reports suggest that the acting commissioner of police Sir Paul Stephenson’s career too could be damaged.
"Ms Smith's claim not to know that Tory MP was under investigation has been
directly challenged," the Times newspaper said in a report.
The Daily Mail reported that Sir Paul Stephenson is considering withdrawing his application for the top job in the wake of mounting criticism.
In the Telegraph, the Labour MP and former Foreign Office minister Denis MacShane criticises Martin for allowing the raid on Green's parliamentary offices. "If the speaker has doubts," MacShane says, "he should consult Privy Counsellors rather than take the decision on his own."
Janet Daley writes in the Telegraph, under the headline Arresting MPs and nationalising banks happen in dictatorships that "the object of the exercise seems to have been intimidation and the flaunting of power".
However, the justice secretary, Jack Straw, denies that the UK is degenerating into a "police state" because ministers were not directing the police operations in the report.
Meanwhile the newspaper has said that Jacqui Smith the home secretary yesterday denied endorsing the methods used by the police.
The row over the arrest of Damian Green, shadow immigration secretary, has put the actions of the Commons Speaker, the acting Metropolitan police commissioner and ministers in the spotlight.
The newspaper quoted Harriet Harman, leader of the House, saying that the case “raised serious constitutional questions that needed to be addressed”.
Ms Harman pledged to hold an inquiry after the investigation was complete.
“MPs should be able to get on with their job without interference of the law,” she said.
Green’s arrest
Police told the BBC that Mr Green was held on suspicion of "conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office". Media reports suggest that the politician was picked up for receiving leaked documents.
The MP denied any wrongdoing and said "opposition politicians have a duty to hold the government to account" and that he would "continue to do so".
He was questioned, but has not been charged and was bailed until February.
Mr Green's arrest is believed to be connected to the arrest of a man suspected of being a Home Office whistleblower, the Telegraph said in a report.
Speaking to reporters including those from the BBC, outside the House of Commons, Mr Green said: "I was astonished to have spent more than nine hours today under arrest for doing my job.
"I emphatically deny I have done anything wrong. I have many times made public information that the government wanted to keep secret - information that the public has a right to know.
"In a democracy, opposition politicians have a duty to hold the government to account. I was elected to the House of Commons precisely to do that and I certainly intend to continue doing so."
Political fallout
The fallout of all this could be severe, especially for two rival politicians. Jacqui Smith, the Home secretary and Michael Martin, the speaker of the House of Commons.
Newspaper reports suggest that the acting commissioner of police Sir Paul Stephenson’s career too could be damaged.
"Ms Smith's claim not to know that Tory MP was under investigation has been
directly challenged," the Times newspaper said in a report.
The Daily Mail reported that Sir Paul Stephenson is considering withdrawing his application for the top job in the wake of mounting criticism.
In the Telegraph, the Labour MP and former Foreign Office minister Denis MacShane criticises Martin for allowing the raid on Green's parliamentary offices. "If the speaker has doubts," MacShane says, "he should consult Privy Counsellors rather than take the decision on his own."
Janet Daley writes in the Telegraph, under the headline Arresting MPs and nationalising banks happen in dictatorships that "the object of the exercise seems to have been intimidation and the flaunting of power".
However, the justice secretary, Jack Straw, denies that the UK is degenerating into a "police state" because ministers were not directing the police operations in the report.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Time up for Happy hour ?
Politicians could ban the happy hour. Local authorities could be empowered to do away with the concept altogether. Does this country really have a drinking problem? If yes, is this a solution?
That’s what most people are wondering after reports in the media revealed the findings of the Home Affairs select committee. The BBC has reported that the committee said that reckless drinking was placing a heavy burden on police resources.
The report’s aims are to lay down ways of tackling challenges facing police forces in modern times.
Ministers told the BBC that they would "look carefully" at the report's recommendations.
The Guardian newspaper reported that the government is likely to take a more holistic approach on the issue.
This would include cigarette-style health warnings on television advertising for drinks, and labels on cans and bottles spelling out their alcohol-unit content.
The home secretary, Jacqui Smith, is expected to tell the alcohol industry that self-regulation over the years hasn’t actually worked.
The Telegraph reported that the ban would apply to "time-limited" cut-price drink offers, or happy hours
The human costs
The BBC has said in a report that evidence showed the biggest problem faced by police forces was violence and disorder caused by excessive drinking of cheap alcohol.
Drink-fuelled crime meant that many forces could not meet the public's expectations of high-profile visible policing at other times, despite currently having record numbers in uniform, the report said.
And there is another factor, the health costs.
The NHS spends about £2.7 billion a year treating alcohol-related illnesses. 811,000 alcohol-related admissions are made to hospitals each year, a report in the Times newspaper has said.
Supermarkets unhappy
A report in the Times newspaper has said that in 1953 there were just 24,000 off-licences in the whole of the UK, now there are more than 40,000. There were 61,000 so-called “on- licence” premises in 1953; now there are 78,500.
There is definitely a co-relation between accessibility and consumption.
When supermarkets were allowed to sell wine in New Zealand there was an immediate 16 per cent increase in consumption, says the report.
But supermarkets face a tough choice. Tesco spokeswoman Dharshini David told the BBC: “If we stopped promoting alcohol, people would go elsewhere”.
A spokesman for the Wine and Spirit Trade Association told the Independent newspaper: "We're in danger of alienating millions of ordinary people who enjoy a drink."
So, is anyone happy at this hour?
Yes, of course. The campaign group Alcohol Concern welcomed the report, calling on ministers to target discount sales and impose a minimum price per unit on alcohol.
Don Shenker, the organisation's chief executive told the Independent newspaper: "We know there is a clear link between the availability of alcohol and the level of abuse. The cheaper the alcohol is, the more it is abused."
That’s what most people are wondering after reports in the media revealed the findings of the Home Affairs select committee. The BBC has reported that the committee said that reckless drinking was placing a heavy burden on police resources.
The report’s aims are to lay down ways of tackling challenges facing police forces in modern times.
Ministers told the BBC that they would "look carefully" at the report's recommendations.
The Guardian newspaper reported that the government is likely to take a more holistic approach on the issue.
This would include cigarette-style health warnings on television advertising for drinks, and labels on cans and bottles spelling out their alcohol-unit content.
The home secretary, Jacqui Smith, is expected to tell the alcohol industry that self-regulation over the years hasn’t actually worked.
The Telegraph reported that the ban would apply to "time-limited" cut-price drink offers, or happy hours
The human costs
The BBC has said in a report that evidence showed the biggest problem faced by police forces was violence and disorder caused by excessive drinking of cheap alcohol.
Drink-fuelled crime meant that many forces could not meet the public's expectations of high-profile visible policing at other times, despite currently having record numbers in uniform, the report said.
And there is another factor, the health costs.
The NHS spends about £2.7 billion a year treating alcohol-related illnesses. 811,000 alcohol-related admissions are made to hospitals each year, a report in the Times newspaper has said.
Supermarkets unhappy
A report in the Times newspaper has said that in 1953 there were just 24,000 off-licences in the whole of the UK, now there are more than 40,000. There were 61,000 so-called “on- licence” premises in 1953; now there are 78,500.
There is definitely a co-relation between accessibility and consumption.
When supermarkets were allowed to sell wine in New Zealand there was an immediate 16 per cent increase in consumption, says the report.
But supermarkets face a tough choice. Tesco spokeswoman Dharshini David told the BBC: “If we stopped promoting alcohol, people would go elsewhere”.
A spokesman for the Wine and Spirit Trade Association told the Independent newspaper: "We're in danger of alienating millions of ordinary people who enjoy a drink."
So, is anyone happy at this hour?
Yes, of course. The campaign group Alcohol Concern welcomed the report, calling on ministers to target discount sales and impose a minimum price per unit on alcohol.
Don Shenker, the organisation's chief executive told the Independent newspaper: "We know there is a clear link between the availability of alcohol and the level of abuse. The cheaper the alcohol is, the more it is abused."
(The picture is a creative commmons photograph from flickr.com. It belongs to Brian Rosner. Click here to go to his profile)
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