Teather Hosts DNA Database Debate
July 22, 2008 12:00 PM
Sarah Teather is campaigning for the removal of innocent people's DNA from the database
Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East, Sarah Teather, has hosted a meeting in the House of Commons to campaign against the holding of innocent people's details on the National DNA Database.
The UK now has the largest DNA Database in the world, with 4.5 million profiles set to be held by the Government by 2010. Half a million of those people have no current conviction, caution, formal warning or reprimand. Ethnic minority people and those with a mental health problem are massively over represented on the database and can feel unfairly stigmatised as a result.
Sarah has tabled an Early Day Motion calling on the Government "to remove from the database and destroy the samples of those people who have not committed a crime", and is a sponsor of the DNA Database (Removal of Samples) Bill, tabled by Liberal Democrat MP Jenny Willott.
The Commons meeting was organised by Black Mental Health UK, and hosted by Sarah Teather.
Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:
"I was really pleased to hold this meeting on an issue which so many of my constituents feel strongly about. People are grossly offended that the Government believe they have a right to treat innocent people as suspects.
Local MP Sarah Teather hosted the meeting in the House of Commons
"It is unacceptable that over three quarters of young black men are now on the National DNA Database, sometimes without even knowing about it. This perpetuates the idea that, if you are black you are more likely to commit a crime, which is quite simply not true.
"Time and time again the Government have shown that they can't be trusted with our personal information. I hope that many more people will get involved in our campaign to persuade the Labour Government to remove the DNA of innocent people from the database."
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