Letters From A Tory Daily views on British politics and the Conservative Party from a centre-right thinker who writes letters on his blog to politicians, journalists and many others.

Dear Nuffield Council on Bioethics,

I am not likely to solve one of the great debates of our generation in the course of this letter, but you have certainly touched a nerve with your report that suggests the DNA of innocent people should no longer be stored by the police.  At present the police can keep the DNA of anyone who has been arrested, even if they are later released without charge, and you would like to see an end to this practice – and so would I, up to a point.

I have no doubts that having a large DNA database will help solve a number of crimes in the future, but the age-old arguments of ‘right to privacy’ and ‘human rights’ remain as strong as ever.  Your group has in the past been asked to look at whether it would help to have a national DNA database for the entire population, although you are currently of the view that this is not necessary.  Such a database would of course prove to be an incredible tool in fighting crime, but the human rights movement would go nuts.  My position on the matter probably makes things even more complicated.

I don’t like the idea of someone having my DNA on file even if I haven’t done anything wrong.  However, it wouldn’t exactly worry me, seeing as I’m a law-abiding citizen and don’t really have anything to hide.  The conflict in my head arises because I very strongly believe that this country needs to introduce some form of identification card to prevent people from gaining access to our public services who are not entitled to them.  Our health service and education system are at breaking point because of the strain placed on them by immigration levels over the past 10 years or so, but it is the illegal immigration which concerns me the most.  Countries such as France and Germany have a identification card which is not used for anything other than confirming eligibility for access to schools, hospitals etc., and the UK desperately needs something similar (the police are not allowed to ask for this card as a means of identifying you).  Such a card is not used to fight crime or terrorism, but does have your basic personal information, and would require a fingerprint as well to be fully effective in my opinion.

I guess what I’m saying is that a national DNA database does not appear necessary in fighting crime and has some serious human rights problems, but I would still like to see some form of identity card introduced for public services to prevent abuse of the system from people living in the UK and abroad.

Best wishes with your report,

A.Tory