GeneWatch reports and briefings

Recent Articles

in Consultation Responses
GeneWatch UK response to the Home Office's consultation on the Forensic Regulator
19th December 2013
in MP Briefings
GeneWatch Parliamentary Briefing: Protection of Freedoms Bill: Lords' Committee Stage
28th November 2011
in Official documents and links
House of Lords 2nd Reading: Protection of Freedoms Bill (8th November 2011)
in GeneWatch briefings
GeneWatch briefing: DNA database: analysis of offending figures
7th November 2011

Note: this briefing has been corrected for a previous error in the final case described.
in MP Briefings
GeneWatch Parliamentary Briefing: Protection of Freedoms Bill: 3rd Reading
6th October 2011
in GeneWatch briefings
GeneWatch UK: Memorandum to the Protection of Freedoms Bill Committee
in GeneWatch briefings
GeneWatch Parliamentary Briefing: Protection of Freedoms Bill
25th February 2011
in Briefings
GeneWatch briefing: DNA databases and human rights
12th January 2011
in DNA Database: what can I do?
The DNA database: contacting your MP (October 2010)
30th October 2010
GeneWatch briefing: the DNA database: what next?
1st July 2010
in GeneWatch press releases and briefings
GeneWatch UK Parliamentary Briefing: Crime and Security Bill
15th January 2010
in MP Briefings
GeneWatch UK submission to Home Affairs Committee: the National DNA Database
15th January 2010
in Consultation Responses
GeneWatch response to the Forensic Regulator's consultation
22nd December 2008
Submission to the Home Office's PACE consultation
1st December 2008
in Consultation Responses
Submission to the Scottish Government's DNA consultation
21st November 2008
Submission to the HGC's DNA consultation
10th November 2008
DNA detections 1998-2008
10th November 2008
DNA detections by crime type
10th November 2008
in Consultation Responses
GeneWatch UK supplementary evidence to the Constitution Committee
27th June 2008
GeneWatch briefing: Would 114 murderers have walked away?
26th June 2008
The National DNA Database: Q&A
21st May 2008
Ten myths about the police National DNA Database
28th February 2008
GeneWatch UK submission to the Constitution Committee's consultation on surveillance
13th June 2007
Briefing for the Northern Ireland Policing Board: Police Retention of DNA from Northern Ireland
31st May 2007
Parliamentary Questions: Forensic DNA (May 2007)
30th May 2007
in Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) consultations
GeneWatch UK submission to the Home Office consultation "Modernising Police Powers"
30th May 2007
in Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) consultations
Briefing: How many innocent children are being added to the National DNA Database?
21st May 2007
Briefing by GeneWatch UK and Action on Rights for Children. Based on Home Office figures we calculate that at least 100,000 innocent 10-17 year-olds are on the DNA Database.
GeneWatch UK submission to the Home Affairs Committee Inquiry "A surveillance society?"
25th April 2007
in Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) consultations
Briefing note for MPs, MSPs, AMs & MLAs. DNA: proposed expansions of powers
25th March 2007
in MP Briefings
Briefing for Councillors and Police Authorities: Police retention of DNA
23rd February 2007
in Nuffield DNA consultation
MPs' Briefing: Human Genetics No.7 - The National DNA Database: an update
25th January 2007
A further update on the police DNA Database
in Nuffield DNA consultation
GeneWatch UK submission to the Nuffield Council on Bioethics' consultation on forensic use of bioinformation
9th January 2007
in Nuffield DNA consultation
The Police National DNA Database Leaflet
14th December 2006
in Nuffield DNA consultation
The Police National Database Card
14th December 2006
Submission to Home Office consultation on standard setting and quality regulation in forensic science
18th October 2006
MPs' Briefing: Human Genetics No. 6 - The Police National DNA Database: an update
17th July 2006

This briefing updates GeneWatch's 2005 Parliamentary Briefing on the National DNA Database and considers evidence that:
- the permanent retention of DNA from innocent people has contributed little to tackling crime;
- DNA profiles and samples continue to be used for controversial genetic research without consent and without any independent oversight;
- there is gowing public and political concern about the Database.
in Genetic research and DNA sample storage
Using the police National DNA Database - under adequate control?
17th July 2006
This briefing describes research and non-operational uses of the National DNA Database (NDNAD). It is based on a series of Freedom of Information requests made by GeneWatch to the NDNAD's Board. It reveals that DNA samples are being used for controversial genetic research without consent and that a commercial company has kept a "mini-database", which includes its own copies of DNA profiles and other information.
The DNA Expansion Programme: reporting real achievement?
27th February 2006
GeneWatch UK has serious concerns that a recent Home Office report - and the way its figures have been cited - is potentially misleading in a number of respects concerning the contribution of the DNA Expansion Programme to criminal intelligence in England and Wales. This briefing first outlines the potential dangers and benefits of the Database and then considers the extent to which the new Home Office report informs the debate.
MSPs' Briefing - Police Retention of DNA
9th February 2006
A briefing for Members of the Scottish Parliament
in Briefings
Briefing 31: THE POLICE NATIONAL DNA DATABASE: Human rights and privacy
31st May 2005

8 pages

The police National DNA Database is the largest DNA database in the world. It contains DNA profiles from more than 2.5 million individuals and is expected to double in number over the next few years. The database includes information on people convicted of a wide range of crimes, including serious violent crimes and minor public order offences, as well as many people who have never have been convicted or charged with any criminal offence.
in Reports
The Police National DNA Database: Balancing Crime Detection, Human Rights and Privacy.
1st January 2005
Using DNA to trace people who are suspected of committing a crime is one of the biggest advances in tackling crime since fingerprinting. When DNA profiling is used wisely it can bring major benefits to society by helping to convict serious criminals including murderers and rapists. Concerns arise, however, when tissue samples, genetic information and personal data are stored indefinitely on a DNA database, like the police forensic database known as the National DNA Database (NDNAD). There are fears that this information may be misused in ways that threaten our individual rights as well as those of our families. We must be confident that the police and the Government use DNA in a way that respects our fundamental right to privacy and protects our civil liberties.
in MP Briefings
MPs' Briefing: Human Genetics No. 5 - The Police DNA database: balancing crime detection and human rights
1st January 2005
Using DNA to trace people who are suspected of committing a crime is one of the biggest advances in tackling crime since fingerprinting. When DNA profiling is used wisely it can bring major benefits to society by helping to convict serious criminals including murderers and rapists. Concerns arise, however, when tissue samples, genetic information and personal data are stored indefinitely on a DNA database, like the police forensic database - known as the National DNA Database (NDNAD). There are fears that this information may be misused in ways that threaten the rights of individuals and their families.

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