Placing everyone on the DNA register is not the answer

RESS · (#1 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Placing everyone on the DNA register is not the answer

10/09/2007 | UK

Deborah Gabriel

The reality is that the criminal justice system in Britain does not deal even-handedly with people of colour – especially if you happen to be of African descent.

Last week, Lord Justice Sedley suggested to the BBC that everyone in the UK and foreign visitors to the country should be placed on the national DNA database as a solution to the disproportionality on the register of some groups.

Britain has the largest DNA database in the world which surpasses even the US, which has only 0.5 per cent of its population on its DNA register, compared with Britain, which has 5.2 per cent. Given the massive difference between the US population (301m) compared with Britain (61 m), this alone should be cause for some concern.

Lord Sedley told the BBC: “We have a situation where if you happen to have been in the hands of the police, then your DNA is on permanent record. If you haven't, it isn't... that's broadly the picture.” Unfortunately that is not the picture – there is a lot more to it than that. As Black Britain has reported on numerous occasions, the reality is that the criminal justice system in Britain does not deal even-handedly with people of colour – especially if you happen to be of African descent.

The predictions are that in just over 2 years – by 2010, half of all black men in Britain will be on the DNA register – whether or not they have committed any crime. Does this mean that black men are more predisposed to crime than white men? Of course not – the reason for the disproportionality is the fact that black communities are targeted by the police - six times more likely to be stopped and searched than the general population and six times more likely to be arrested.

The commonsense solution should be to address this serious level of discrimination, rather than avoid it by simply suggesting that everyone have their DNA retained on the register. Such an attitude is simply condoning the infringement of the civil liberties of black people in Britain. One must also question, given the fact that British prisons are overflowing with black prisoners, whether the actions of the police and criminal justice system in this country is breeding crime within black communities rather than preventing it.

This government has created a more divided society than it inherited, in terms of racial disparities and as recent studies have shown, has widened the gap between the rich and poor. Avoiding this mess it has created will do nothing to repair the damage but lead to a situation where people are forced to take a stand to protect the civil liberties that they are being routinely denied.

I wholeheartedly agree with Shami Chakrabati of Liberty’s statement that: "A database of every man, woman and child in the country is a chilling proposal, ripe for indignity, error and abuse."

Black Britain | Comment | Columnists, Comments, and Analysis |

White Supremacist Racist management of personal data is deadly.

girlfromthenc · (#2 (**permalink**))

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Originally Posted by RESS

White Supremacist Racist management of personal data is deadly.

Yes it is! But who is to say the government doesn't already have many people's DNA or couldn't get it if they wanted it. Think about how many times you've gone to hostipals and they've drawn blood. Of course its your natural assumption that they dispose of the blood for sanitation purposes.........

Incognito · (#3 (**permalink**))

These agendas are written in stone, there is no stopping it. From GM crops to cloning how many times do you hear these people one year say something is amoral to humankind then a few years later they let it through. We live in the times of computers, in time they will be doing everything from housework to enforcing the law....if you are on the database why would they need a manned police force more than so?

But agreed it's not the answer in totality because the criminal is always one step ahead...next there'll be pioneers in manipulating dna where they can make one person look just like another. If god hasn't come to reclaim his earth yet, hopefully he will by then.

DSP · (#4 (**permalink**))

I heard about this last week. Looks like UK is taking the lead on big brother antics.

Judge J · (#5 (**permalink**))

Incognito is right these agenda's are set in stone.

The governemnt are usually years into these practices by the time they decide to let the everyday people know whats going on.

They will publicise these plans, via making it a discussion topic on various commercial radio stations, and whilst many of us are venting our anger at these plans via radio (as if our opinions mean a dam thing to the powers that be) the government will be using this diversion to think of another ridiculous law to take away our human rights...AGAIN

The cycle continues

girlfromthenc · (#6 (**permalink**))

DSP (AND everyone else I apologize before hand for getting off topic),

But I must say I like the Liberia shoes in DSP's photo. I like seeing stuff like that. If these shoes are indeed made in Liberia (which I assume they are) they could be a way to boost Liberia's economy. If you're Black and especially if you have your own "country" you should be buying goods MADE IN your country or trying to get more goods produced in your own country instead of importing everything from all these countries that obviously could give a rat's ass about the welfare of Black people.

MarcusGarveyLives · (#7 (**permalink**))

"Placing everyone on the DNA register is not the answer."

That depends on the question.

Whose Questions? Whose Answers?

RESS · (#8 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarcusGarveyLives

"Placing everyone on the DNA register is not the answer."

That depends on the question.

Whose Questions? Whose Answers?

That is the point.

Those are the questions.