General Chat

Everyone should be DNA and be put on record

'if you haven't done anything wrong what is there to be afraid of' How many people have died with those words on their lips? Killed by their own governments because they werent deemed genetically suitable . In 1933 the Nazi government got over 90% of the vote. How would you feel if the BNP got hold of your DNA?? How would you feel if your genes meant you qualified for compulsory deportation? Wake up! Jelly

I agree, so do both teenage sons. If you haven't done anything wrong what is there to be afraid of. One question - would a clone have the same finger prints? Anne in North London.

Exactly Jelly head - couldn't agree more.

just had this discussion with hubby. we are in agreement but if its done at birth then it should put on the birth certificate that we have had our dna put on file. that way it would also prevent potential criminals committing a crime in the first place. killing two birds with one stone. taylor

...but it's not just about crime is it? What government (of any colour) would be able to guarantee that DNA taken now would NEVER be used for any other purpose? Think about the NHS - supposing it is gradually privatised, with a US style insurance system taking its place. Your DNA could show you may be a high cancer risk. It's only an increase in the possibility, but what health insurance company will take that chance? You would find yourself without health cover through no fault of your own. If you vote Labour - would you trust the Tories with it? If you are a Tory - would you trust Labour etc etc? Obviously genocide will continue to happen without it - but you could never deny your genes. You could never hide and you couldn't even leave the country to escape it. And there could never be insurrection either. There could never be true freedom to protest again. It's nothing to do with Bleeding Hearts - it's for the protection of basic liberties and once your basic liberty has gone, it has gone for EVERYBODY, FOREVER. I don't want my liberty to be compromised just because criminal detection and sentencing is inadequate. The answer isn't less freedom, but more resources and better sentences. Unfortunately Joe Public probably wouldn't be willing to pay the extra. Jelly

I wouldn't have thought so Harry - nothing else has proved much of a deterant has it?

David, Your point is a fair one but you would be denying the forces of law and order a most potent weapon in the fight against crime. Surely the more convictions we get, the greater will be the deterrent to criminals following their life-style.(especially in contact crimes, Assaults; rape and the like) best wishes Happy days

I am for it!

Jelly Head Take your point. However, the LACK of DNA has never stopped any country/dictator from persecuting the people they don't like, so I still think the pros outweigh the cons. As for identical twins - well, as this would be relatively rare in the matter of serious crime, then other, more conventional methods would have to be used alingside DNA evidence. OC

I'm against it and it's nothing to do with being PC or because I'm guilty of anything or have anything to hide. The government have enough information on me already. Jellyhead makes an extremely valid point when s/he asks who would you trust to keep this database because I can't think of any organisation I would trust. I also resent the infringement of my privacy - though I can't see how that relates to being 'politically correct'. It's no-ones business but mine what my DNA consists of.

Why not,it seems like a good idea to me. But not the bum print I hasten to add !! Lol

all for it ,,,,but i guess if it went ahead,,,human rights would intervene. but being told all the time all i do is sit down all day and do nothing,perhaps they should include a bum print database. derek

Thanks again for the replies. Very little in this world is completely black and white. In this case, in my opinion, the pros completely outweigh the cons. Might just add, that a policeman friend of mine, is part of a team who are re-examing all the old cases. Would guess that most constabularies are doing the same. brest wishes. happy days

It's a nice idea so long as we live in a relatively free society like we do now. But once you are on the database you will be there forever and who knows what type of government we will have in the future? It doesn't take much for society to become de-stabilised and draconian measures to come in. Just think what the Nazi's could have done with that type of info? Look at Rwanda and other African nations that take part in ethnic cleansing? And it's not that long ago it was happening in Europe - think about the atrocities in Yugoslavia. And what if twenty years from now the government of the day decides to give the info to insurance or health companies? Or it is used to test for criminal tendencies rather than actual crimes? Lets not forget that some of our liberties are already gone - like the right to a trial by jury. How could be be totally free to protest if we could be tracked down so easily. It's not just people that break today's laws that will be affected. Yes, great in principle but who could you actually TRUST to keep the info and only use it for that purpose? Jellyhead

Just made me remember ... when son was born, he had his footprint taken ... but I never got it :-( and never saw it. Yep. I agree, Fingerprints and DNA taken at birth. Wasn't there a big scandal a few months ago, when it was found that a certain (can't remember) police force had been keeping fingerprints or something from children in a database ?? Heard something, but didn't keep upto date with it. I'm sure it would be a preventative measure as well wouldn't it ? ... people would think twice before doing anything they shouldn't for fear of being caught ? Elaine ;-)

Yes but my only concern is identical twins! how would you decide which twin the DNA came from? I have no problem having my DNA, finger prints and other biometric data hald on a database nor do I object to carrying ID card (as a student I have to so I'm use to it). What I do object to is being made to pay for it out of my own pocket. - If the government wants up to have such things they can budget for it. only the guilty have anything to hide.

Thanks for your interest folks. Not often we get 100% consensus on here. Happy days

Yes - when I am elected Prime Minister it will be compulsory for everyone to register their DNA. Only the criminals will be upset by this and I dont care about them. I have to admit to a feeling of delight everytime I hear that someone has been prosecuted for something which happened 20/30 years ago - they thought they got away with it, but they didnt. Hope it gives a few guilty people some sleepless nights. OC

Think it'd be a great idea :-) RDA.x.