and if you have nothing to hide like a rape from 10 years ago, why worry? i think DNA should be taken at birth, it would also solve babies that have beed dumped in a doorstep or somewhere, if everyone has their DNA taken, i think crime would soon be falling to almost nothing.
no just now the cops can only take DNA if you are arrested and charged with a crime, if they arrest you and let you go, they are not allowed to take DNA
Yep & even if your charged & then found not guilty by a court then all fingerprints & DNA have to be destroyed, unless they already have your fingerprints/DNA from an earlier crime where you were found guilty.
Actually thats not true, if your charged and aquitted they still keep your DNA, and there is no such thing as being found innocent in a UK court, if your aquitted it simply means they have not found you guilty. They do that so you cant sue them for wrongfull arrest. Therefore you are found possibly guilty no matter what.
What you're saying is correct, assuming the authorities use the information in a responsible manner. Sadly, the UK government has form for being blase with people's confidential information - it wasn't that long ago that the DVLA were selling driving licence holder's personal details to insurance companies and the Department for Constitutional Affairs were selling on debts to dodgy companies. The Police don't need any more power - they have enough to abuse already.