DNA Database Discriminates Against Black And Ethnic Minority Communities - Teather Tells Commons

1.35.52pm GMT Mon 10th Mar 2008

Sarah Teather spoke up in Parliament for her constituents

Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather has told the House of Commons that the National DNA Database is fundamentally discriminatory against black and ethnic minority people and particularly stigmatises young black men.

Sarah called the debate to highlight the fact that, if you are black, your details are three times more likely to be stored on the Government's record than if you are white. Figures suggest that 77% of young black men will soon have their details held on the database, despite evidence that black people are actually no more likely to have committed a crime than white people.

The UK has the largest National DNA Database in the world, with 4.5 million profiles set to be held by the Government by 2010. 55% of the black and ethnic minority people on the database have no current conviction, caution, formal warning or reprimand.

Meg Hillier MP, representing the Government, refused Sarah's requests that the DNA of innocent people should be removed from the database.

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:

"It was important that I raised the concerns of so many of my constituents in the House of Commons. The DNA database is dangerous because it perpetuates the myth that black people are more likely to commit a crime, which just isn't the case.

"If you are young, black and male you are more likely to be stopped by the police, and more likely to have your privacy infringed by being placed on the DNA database. If the Government want the relationship between the police and black communities to improve, this has got to stop.

"I do not want to live in a world where whole populations are treated as suspects because of the colour of their skin. Doing nothing about this is not an option.

"I hope that this debate represents the beginning of a wider campaign against these clearly unfair practices. Those who feel as strongly about this issue as I do should get involved by telling the Government that the DNA of innocent people should not be stored on the database."

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Read Sarah's speech to the House of Commons.