Astounded over test demands

We in the Liberal Party are astounded that Lord Justice Sedley has called for the universal registration of every citizen’s DNA on a national, compulsory DNA database.

As if the Government’s plans for identity cards were not bad enough, it is now suggested that we should register the very essence of ourselves with the State, reducing all of us to a bar code held by an overmighty State.

This Government would do well to remember that it is the State which belongs to its citizens, not vice versa.

We would agree with Lord Justice Sedley to the extent that the current scheme is wholly arbitrary and unfair.

At present, arrest is sufficient for your DNA to be added to the database whether or not you are ever found guilty of any crime.

Fairness could be introduced by limiting the taking of DNA samples to those convicted of a crime, not by extending the scheme and forcing everyone to register.

A universal DNA database is likely to lead to miscarriages of justice and the wasting of police time as criminals would be able to leave false DNA “trails” by doing as little as scattering a few hairs around.

The “nothing to hide, nothing to fear” argument is founded on a false premise.

It assumes that it is right for the citizen to answer to the State. It is the State which should answer to its citizens, always, and down any other path tyranny lies.

Daniel Wood, Chair of the Policy Committee, The Liberal Party, Cheshire

This article posted on September 12, 2007 at 16:06

3 Comments

  1. Rupert Barrington-Black said: Sep 14th, 2007 at 07:33

    I am slightly confused.

    Is the Liberal Party in Cheshire, the same as the Liberal Democrat party?

    Or is Mr. Wood seeking to confuse more than me?

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  2. Peter said: Sep 14th, 2007 at 10:08

    Rupert,
    I believe that at the time of the merger with the SDP the original Liberal partry continued. I reckon this is the ‘old’ Liberal party rather than the Lib Dems.

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  3. Daniel Wood said: Sep 14th, 2007 at 22:24

    I am grateful for the above.

    The Liberal Party continued after a number of our members left teh party to join with the SDP and found what became the Liberal Democrats.

    I am not seeking to confuse anyone and to avoid confusion the party name is registered with the electoral commission.

    For more information on the party you can visit the website at http://www.liberal.org.uk

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