National DNA Database would be over the top

3.00.00pm GMT Sat 23rd Feb 2008

Responding to calls to put the DNA of every UK resident on a national database, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:

"Both the killers of and the Suffolk killer had previous convictions which meant that their DNA is now kept on the database as a matter of course.

"No country has tried to collect and store the DNA of all its citizens. This would be a vast, expensive and over the top exercise which would slow down DNA matching, would increase the chances of error, and would be a massive extension of the big brother state.

"If the Government loses your DNA details, the consequences could be far more serious than losing your bank details or your National Insurance number because you cannot change your DNA."