Should The Authorities Be Storing Dna/fingerprints/photos Of The Innocent?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31105678
I think they are still holding on to fingerprint/DNA data despite being told it had to be deleted a couple of years ago. Is this the latest step toward a totalitarian state? OK how long before someone says the usual drivel on these types of questions?

[youngmafbog]

//but object for more honest reasons, should hardly be forced to do something against their will. //

I object to paying tax for the honest reason that I believe I could spend the money far wiser. Does that mean I should not be forced to pay tax?

[jim360]

I don't agree that's an appropriate parallel. Far closer might be military service, for which conscientious objection should remain a right.

[ichkeria]

The "usual drivel" is presumably either
"all those lefty do-gooders trying to interfere with law enforcement"
or
"all those lefty totalitarian staters trying to harvest our pure and innocent DNA"

In this instance I am not sure which is being referred to :-)

[youngmafbog]

I think you get my meaning Jim, you dont have to take the example literally.

There are many things we are 'forced' to do, we do not live in a totally free country, that would be a nightmare. It is just where you draw the line.

[jim360]

Yes, I'll happily concede that there are some things we have to do whether or not we like it.

[Old_Geezer]

A citizen may disagree with particular laws and how the country is run, and so can object to how they are treated, but no one seriously thinks a State can run on thin air. Taxes are necessary, but they have yet to make them fair to all. The passport office is most likely to hold your likeness as part of the "deal". They can then identify you from your photo in your passport. That's a different matter to holding information one has not given permission for. It's why different databases have to be separate, to avoid too much power over each individual citizen, and ensure there could be no dissent.

[Gromit]

Ymb,
Programming is not cheap. Maintaining databases is not cheap and the amount of man hours to scan and input data has a cost. If a not inconsiderable amount of that effort is a waste of time, then we should at least question whether resouses are being used properly.

[youngmafbog]

OG, read my qualifying reply to jim a bit further down the page.

Why do so many people take things so literally?

[youngmafbog]

//Programming is not cheap. Maintaining databases is not cheap and the amount of man hours to scan and input data has a cos//

Yes it is if done in India. I know, I write the cheques! It's not very good - but it's cheap!

[jim360]

It's partly because the written word misses the nuances of sarcasm. I had assumed you weren't being entirely literal, but thought you were drawing a comparison specifically with taxes. I thought that comparison wasn't justified, so I replied as such. If you had a more general comparison in mind, well, I couldn't divine that until you said so.

[whiskeryron]

It seems to me we require more official recorded particulars not less. If everyone's photograph plus fingerprints & DNA were recorded would it not be easier to trace illegals in this country who should not be here? Further to this I have often wondered if all babies born were in some way chipped we would once & for all be able to trace not only lost children but also other people who disappear from society.

[joggerjayne]

As we are starting to see, terrorist groups are storing as much data as they can.

If the UK authorities do not keep up with the terrorists in terms of data storage, then ...

... the terrorists will gain an advantage, and

... innocent people WILL die.

It's a pretty stark choice ... Let the authorities collect LOTS ( and I mean LOTS) of data on EVERYBODY ... or risk being killed.

And sure, they shouldn't hold data on "innocent" people.

But, if they knew who was innocent and who was not, there would be no more crimes. We are ALL innocent until we do something that makes us not innocent. And, by then, it's too late ... the bodies are already being counted.

If the security services think they can keep a better eye on the baddies by having a comprehensive fingerprint and DNA database, I will turn up at the station tomorrow to give my samples.

[whiskeryron]

Well said jj. I'm with you on that (should we hold hands when we go?)

[joggerjayne]

As long as we don't mix our DNA, WR.

[whiskeryron]

Ooh you are awful,but I like you!!