Taking DNA from motorists for speeding is riddiculous.
The police have reduced speed limits on lots of roads all around britain, then they set up speed cameras to try to catch motorists who did'ent realise the speed limit has been changed. Welcome to police state britain.
It's about time the media started to use there power to help stop this obsession of the police to persicute people who may stray a few miles per hour over their lowered speed limits.

Stan, Manchester,

Am I right in thinking that Britains roads are the safest in the world, Then why o why do the police keep banging on and on about speeding and keep reducing the limits.
For christ's sake leave us alone. Frustrated motorist!.

Stan, Manchester,

When is the brain implant chip coming, so that they will know what we're thinking? In that way they would know of our intention to drop litter before we do it. Of course it must have a GPS function so that they will know where we are, what speed we're travelling at etc. etc.
A couple of days ago it was said that Enoch Powell was right. Today George Orwell was right, but 23 years early in his prediction.

John, Bremerhaven, Bremerhaven, Germany

Terrifying police state creep. Even if resisted it firms acceptance of the DNA sampling on arrest (instead of Guilt).

Why fear? The result will be lazy policing - your DNA found at the scene of a crime - which may be there because you passed at another time or because it was planted - now you are presumed guilty and have to prove your innocence.

Speeding is not a crime, it does not indicate someone likely to commit other crimes, it is a civil offence. But a much greater offence is to be treated as a criminal and alienated from society.

Very soon - just two speeding tickets from cameras - no meaningful right of appeal and you are banned from driving and a suspect in every rape and murder in the country.

Is the aim to criminalise and terrorise every citizen til they dare not move or think freely in a police state.

Simon, Cambridge, UK

DNA resulting from speeding - what next. UK is becoming a Police State

Raymond Booth, St Albans,

I'm torn on this discussion. I don't live in England or Wales (and note that the new rules won't apply in Scotland or NI). Half of me is of the opinion that "if you've done nothing wrong, you have nothing to hide", and half is more "this seems wrong somehow". With the increasing reliance on surveillance, automated ticketing of infringements, and so on, it is worrisome at best. On the other hand, it may help solve cases faster, freeing up police time so they can do more paperwork.

I think on a balance, if I were living in England or Wales, I'd be against this. Not because of the plan itself, but because of the likelihood of functionality creep — if/when the database is launched, what's going to stop it being used for other, less noble purposes?

Thomas Ralph, Dublin 4, Ireland

why not, in addition, abolish habeas corpus and give the police powers to enter private homes without warrants. in 1933, germany abolished search warrants. the government said 'if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear' from an inspection. why not have a cctv camera in each home! on the national database, they could also have details of religeon so that the civil power would know immediately if the person is a social undesirable. i went to live overseas more than 30 years ago, on several occasions i warned friends in the legal profession that britain was sliding into a facist style of government (the belief that all social problems can be cured by punishment) now the reality is upon you. do people really believe that police forces are the best guardians of civil liberties? how naive! the civil liberties groups are of no help either because they project an image of mealy-mouthed wet lefties who only talk about rights (and never about duties). its all a bit late

bruce, cereste, france

How soon would it be before all the DNA is analysed to filter out those who are genetically inclinded towards free-thinking and self-reliance?

Steve, Preston, UK

I think this would be more effective than spending millions on an ID card that you don't even have to carrry with you.

Frank, Luto, Beds

What does European Law say about this issue ?

Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,

by making laws you create more criminals
by jailing more people you create more
angry disrespectful people who may be
more likely to commit more henious
crimes. as any guard in a jail can attend
you cannot stop crimes from happening
in jails either .

chris, milwaukee, usa

In the end, the people get what they deserve. If crime deterrent justifies this invasion of privacy, then why stop there? It would certainly help the police track down criminals if there were CCTV monitoring in many more locations than exist already, and if every citizen were obliged to carry identification. And why stop there? Only people guilty of illegal or immoral acts have any reason to resist cameras inside our houses, and think of all the rapes you could prevent then. So really, privacy and dignity are petty concerns when all we law abiding citizens of the UK really want is a safe place to raise our children. So in the end, the Brits will get what they deserve. I for one would never travel there if I had to give my DNA to them, and imagine that, from someone has nothing to hide, not dirty little secrets. I'm a living breathing contradiction.

Gordon Ashe, Vancouver, Canada

I think that it is complete madness not to have this database and I would be happy to go onto the database. Only those that wish to bring our country down or have something to hide could possibly oppose this.

chris, colchester, uk

Could someone please tell me how I can volunteer my DNA for this wonderful database? I read about a lot of petty arguments about whether it's right or wrong, but frankly I'm not interested. I just want to do my bit by putting myself on the database and encouraging everyone I know to do the same. The more people there are on the database, that can be quickly eliminated from criminal investigations, the less work the police will have to do to find the perpetrators of past and future crimes. I can't believe anyone would even question the morality of this wonderful thing that has seen so many evil people imprisoned already - unless the people who question it have something to hide themselves.

Tim Popkin, London, England

If a national database of DNA were established it would mean that violent crime and in particular rape would be dramatically reduced, as it is now almost impossible to commit there crimes without leaving DNA evidence. Establishing a national database with therefore allow people greater freedom within there lives, with less fear of violent assault or rape.

I can see no way that having my DNA fingerprint stored alongside the other information held on me, can in any way be considered an infringement of my liberties. Within any civilised society it is essential that there must be some central record of citizens.

To try to deny society the benefit of what is a major advance in technology that can have considerable benefit to law abiding individuals is churlish. I regret I can see no rational logic in your argument for opposing it.

Some of those expressing their opposition to this is from those who have previously committed such crimes and fear they will be brought to justice.

Martyn Parker, Peterborough, UK

The "ACPO" (Association of Chief Police Officers) is no more than their Trade Union. The very word "Association" says everything, yet our very own Parliament can frequently be heard speaking about "ACPO rules" as though APCO has legislative powers. Heaven help us all if it ever did.

Parliament, answerable to the people, should act to bring ACPO firmily under control'

Stephen Duncan, SW Greater London, England

No way will they have my DNA. Yes take me to court. Lets all goto court. Put me in prison. And see the system grind to an halt.

Michael Woods, Chorley,

Totally against this DNA collection of this type of ofence.
At this rate as soon as baby's are born they will take a DNA sample and add it to a database.
This government I'm sure wants BIG BROTHER.
George Orwell would now be turning in this grave if he saw what was happening now and when he wrote 1984.

Allan, Stafford, UK

Is there no end to how the authorities are trying to get everyone in this country onto the database? the vast majority of those on the database will be ordinary law abiding folk whilst the serious criminal will be able to stay off it. When will the state realise that by pursuing this agenda they are alienating the community they purport to serve and making the police appear to be an 'organ of state'. Yes this is a Stalinist regime!

Sparks, uk,

Maintain your freedom. Emigrate..................

Richard Prior, Bucharest, Romania

Like many British people, I was brought up to respect the police, and once upon a time, the steady, reassuring presence of the British bobby was something we could be proud of; fatherly, worldy-wise, above all embodying pragmatic common sense. Sadly, the police today have given up on serious crime and target pretend crime like speeding where all they do is alienate decent law abiding citizens. I recently had to deal with two Metropolitan police 'stormtroopers' on an issue at work; they were an arrogant, borderline offensive, scruffy pair of louts. Here in Suffolk, I have been quite impressed by the police but the national picture is far from uniform. Rather than being part of the solution, I fear that the police, especially the graduate senior ranks (who wouldn't last five minutes in business despite their jargon) are a major part of the problem.

Andy, Suffolk,

I am in total agreement that DNA samples should be taken from all motorist who commit speeding offences as well as people who drop litter. This is as long as the DNA of all those who advocate these policies, as well as their children is taken and recorded as well. Moreover, I would also advocated that the full details of their bank accounts are published on a yearly basis. After all, if they have nothing to hide, why would they object?

Stan, Stanmore, England

Little by little they take the freedoms:

Ever heard this one?

"In Germany, they came first for the Communists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist;
And then they came for the trade unionists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist;
And then they came for the Jews, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew;
And then . . . they came for me . . . And by that time there was no one left to speak up."

Dave , Notts , UK

I could not believe my ears when I heard what Lord Justice Sedley said today about taking the DNA of the entire population! Plus now the police wanting to take DNA from speeding drivers. We are sleepwalking towards a police state. Of course, we will be assured that there will be "strict procedures governing the use of the database" and it will be only used in "certain well-defined circumstances" etc, etc. But after Iraq, Matrix Churchill, WMD et al, do you really trust any politician anymore? They all come across as control-freaks, believing (mistakenly) that the more they know about you, the better society will be. This mind-set then makes them patsies for the police who are always hungry for more powers, more cash, more resources (though funnily enough, even after years of extra spending, their results remain less than stellar). I will vote for any political party that makes it a promise to scrap this idea (and the costly/useless ID card scheme)!

Roger , Sheffield, UK

The problem is that we are now living in the 'Elective Dictatorship ' that the late Lord Hailsham warned us about years ago.
When laws are made that can be modified by the executive at will -as if permanently at war- then the political parties seem to give up.(Statutory instrument)
A They can't change it easily,if at all.(out of power groups)
B They don't want to be marked men (already exempt from ID's) [in power types]
C They may quite like to get their hands on the levers of power to see what they do when pulled!! (When next in power)
Easy- aint it folks?? ...when you know how.
But a sad comment on human nature and democracy both IMO.

trev, Wilts, Emgland

The problem is that we are now living in the 'Elective Dictatorship ' that the late Lord Hailsham warned us about years ago.
When laws are made that can be modified by the executive at will -as if permanently at war- then the political parties seem to give up.(Statutory instrument)
A They can't change it easily,if at all.(out of power groups)
B They don't want to be marked men (already exempt from ID's) [in power types]
C They may quite like to get their hands on the levers of power to see what they do when pulled!! (When next in power)
Easy- aint it folks?? ...when you know how.
But a very sad comment on human nature and democracy -both IMO.
Not a little dangerous for all....

trev, Wilts, England

I wish we could bring all the non-crazy Brits over here with us. My ancestors are Scottish and Native American, and I just with we could rescue you. We are in the last days.

Kim, Savannah, GA, United States

This, ID cards, The Childrens Index Database, The fingerprinting of children in schools.

Why anybody thinks voting Labour is good for this country is beyond me.

Andrew Evans, Llanelli, UK

I agree with contributor Ingslot Vonnesline that the existence of a DNA database does not, of itself, constitute an assault on civil liberties. Nor would a national DNA database containing profiles of all UK residents and visitors; provided the data were not abused. But there is the rub.
Not only wouldn't I trust our current government to implement necessary privacy safeguards, but I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that there is already a back-door plan to use DNA data for a plethora of scottish presbyterian social engineering projects. You said you would listen Mr. Brown... well, cop this - my nanny died several years ago, but I really am OK. Trust me!

John, South Normanton, Derbyshire

I don't quite know how our overstretched police force is going to tunnel out from underneath a mountain of government paperwork and start DNA testing people for dropping litter.

Please remember too, that the traffic police have mostly been replaced by cameras which can't DNA test anyone.

Clearly the British are too law abiding for the database to build up quickly enough so the rules have to be tightened to scoop up some more. Its the implementation thats tricky, perhaps doctors might have more time.

Please stop telling us to wake up, we already are awake, but with all the new legislation in place theres not much we can do about it.

RW, Yorkshire,

What the Police want to do is turn the UK into a Police State even more than it is already, and then they can shoot people dead at will and not have any blame whatsoever. Perhaps they would also like to be in charge of the IPCC ?. Perhaps they would like to be judge ,jury and executioner ?. Perhaps they also would like to say everyone is guilty until proven innocent ?. Let us not allow the Police to dictate the laws that the Government make, as has already happened under Blair .The police should shut up and get on with policing leave law making to the Government.

Simon, London, UK

Oh, Good Lord, have the English people lost their collective minds/courage/common sense?!? This sort of insanity could only be serving the interests of those who fancy themselves the rightful masters of the rest of us. Haven't we all seen enough James Bond films to recognise when the power-hunger of disturbed minds has been allowed too much leeway in human affairs. The people pushing for this draconian clamp-down on the free expression of their fellow human beings ought to be sacked, pilloried, and paraded for the public embarassments they are to the Crown and its loyal subjects. Law enforcement organs are meant to protect people, not to tyrannise them.

Andrew, Emmitsburg, USA/Maryland

I wish this country would WAKE UP. The police have no right to take DNA for a non-chargeable offence, or for that matter an offence that you MAY be charged for. This is supposed to be a FREE country. Being monitored and guilty until proved innocent is not justified in the fight against crime. The huge majority are innocent law-abiding citizens. Why are the English rolling over and accepting this? Think of your children and their future!

Melanie Raymer, Derby, UK

I think it's weird how the issue of race is brought up at all. Why does that matter? They take the DNA from a person who is doing something wrong, even children who are doing something wrong. That person's race is beside the point. So now, to make up for the fact that most of the people who happen to be in the database are male and black, they want to take DNA from everyone? That's ridiculous.

Taylor, Colorado Springs, CO

This is all good and well , until someone steals your DNA and implicates you in a crime you didnt commit...

Hey you did it.. its your DNA.

What a clever law. NOT

tj, Seattle, WA

If there was hope, it must lie in the proles, because only there, in those swarming disregarded masses, eighty-five percent of the population of Oceania, could the force to destroy the Party ever be generated.

Old Benjamin, the donkey, seemed quite unchanged since the Rebellion. He did his work in the same slow obstinate way as he had done it in Jones's time, never shirking and never volunteering for extra work either. About the Rebellion and its results he would express no opinion. When asked whether he was not happier now that Jones was gone, he would say only "Donkeys live a long time. None of you has ever seen a dead donkey," and the others had to be content with this cryptic answer.

Do not imagine, comrades, that leadership is a pleasure. On the contrary, it is a deep and heavy responsibility. No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?

Brian , Boston, Oceania

The police will not be happy until everyone's DNA is automatically recorded at birth.

Yes, I think this sounds paranoid, too. But who would have believed, twenty years ago, that what is now seriously proposed could even be considered?

Peter Lloyd, BLACKER HILL, South Yorkshire

I'm sure the police want the DNA of everyone, it would make their lives easier and PC plod would only have to find a match to solve a crime. Its Parliament's responsibility to tell them to get stuffed in the name of liberty, and do some proper detective work if they want to catch criminals. Anyone who vows to stop this incessant chipping away at my liberties has my vote.

G, London,

I don't see why the storage of DNA is a civil liberties issue. Surely the civil liberties concern is not whether crime can be detected using DNA databases, but in how else the information may be used. These issues should be separated. There is no reaason why all citizens should not have their DNA recorded as a matter of routine, and that criminal searches be carried out against such DNA databases. Commiting crime is not a civil liberty nor is protection from detection. Where there is genuine concern with respect to civil liberties is how well the information will be guarded and how restrictive access to it will be, includig access by government agencies.

Ingslot Vonnesline, London,

Orwellian. Very worrying. I fear for the kind of society my son may be living in in 20 years time.

Mark Langford, Birmingham, UK

I just watched the movie "V" and it would seem your country is truely headed down the tubes into totalitarian government control.

Good luck with that.


We don't seem to be to far behind.

Eric, Boise, ID, USA

I feel sorry for you Brits, and I say that very respectfully.

You are on a very slippery slide toward a police state (although the US isn't too far behind you). Thanks George and Tony.

Time to stand up and stop the nonsense on both sides of the Atlantic.

R Morning, Middletown, MD, USA

I think it's a good idea to collect as many people's DNA as possible, this would make it easier to solve murders, rapes and abductions.

e, london,

My 15 yr old daughter had DNA and fingerprints taken for writing her myspace address on a wall, she recieved a reprimand but the DNA and fingerprints stay on the data base for life, Is this legal for the police to take it from her then as it is not a jailable offence?

Alison, CorfeMullen, Dorset

If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear....

On that hypothesis why not simply agree that every moment of our lives should be monitored and recorded from cradle to grave?

But who will watch the watchers?

Richard , Jersey,

One day we are going to wake up and find our freedom has been stolen you will no longer have a name you will have a number. Chipped at birth tracked until the day you die forget orwell's1984 think 1997 and the arrival of the Labour party. Since that day our minds have been kept off what is really happening in this country.

Ben Harper, Lancing, uk

I totally agree with the points raised by C Heathcote from Tonbridge and Chris from Lichfield.

It seems to me like this new initiaitve is based on the presumption that we're all guilty until proven innocent. I agree with the fact that someone who is suspected of committing a serious offence (i.e rape, murder etc..) should have their DNA put into a database.

However, if the suspect is later found not guilty of the crime then their DNA should be erased from the database. Apart from expecting them to commit a crime I cannot think of any other reason as to why the police and the powers that be would want to retain an innocent person's DNA on a database. This is supported by the fact that children who cannot be criminally liable stil have their DNA stored. I suspect that the police are waiting to arrest them on some time in the future.

Jeancy, London

Jeancy, London,

Does the police need parental consent to takee DNA samples from minors, or are parents being totallyt ignored and only blamed if things go wrong?

George, London,

WHAT is happening to your country?
Are you just sheeple?
Haven't you ever read 1984?
WAKE UP !!!!

Dean, Whitefish, MT / USA

This reminds me of the movie "Gattaca", where the cops primary weapon was a vacuum cleaner and a swab. Genetic dispositions could be used to determine who the criminals are before the crimes are comitted. Awesome....I may be a criminal already!

Valandir, Glennallen,

George Orewell would "love" today's England. It makes you wonder what pronoucement about what new programs from the Ministry of Love will be announced next by the Ministry of Truth.

I expect the next thing will be re-education camps for the overweight.

You can take the statement, "There will always be an England," and toss it onto the trash heap of history.

Flyoverman, Midwest, Iowa/USA

Why doesn't the government come clean and say that it really would like to tag every single individual in the country by implanting a chip at birth. That way it could dispense with the courts because the government will then know who was doing what when. Is this the society that British people want? If so, fine, if not you had better get rid of this government.

Colin, Bristol,

So the police want unlimited power. That is as it ever was. The electorate must choose to be a free society, and impose its collective will upon the whole gamut of bureaucrats, from mere officious intermeddlers to full-blown totalitarians. The bid to collect DNA for non-jailable offenses like speeding and littering would appear to be a good place to draw a bright line.

King Alexander, Lake Charles, LA, USA

I know what this is about, note the comment, "... growing concern among MPs and civil liberties groups about the number of children under 10 and young black men on the database ...". It is an anti profiling move, therefore, if all those not under 10 or young and black can be legiimately added to the database, it will balance things up a bit and your leaders will be able to polish their halos and not look so worried on TV.

Oh, in time they will also, increase taxes, fine you - for being you, charge a shoe tax on all wearers over size 4 and yet, still be able to deny discrimination because the DNA database will clearly demonstrate more over 10 and non young black people than ever before.

DNA & Fingerprints withheld

Ric Harrison, Uniontown, PA, USA

Oh come on, scarcely a month ago you allowed 12 million of your fellow countrymen, neighbours and friends to be ostracised by this government, with hardly a squeak of protest. Some of you even thought it was a good thing to make people stand in the rain and cold for the good of YOUR health. Did you read the specifications for shelters, that people should be exposed as much as possible to the elements until they comply with the governments wishes? No clues there?

Now its your turn, scary isn't it?

Rose, Yorkshire,

The argument put forward by the police & government is today is just defensible, crime levels, terrorism or whatever. But tomorrow is another day, some years for now when this data base holds nearly all, if not all the populations DNA who is to say that the government of that time is going to respect the controls that are said to be in place today? Once that data base is created & once the power to use it becomes acceptable, who then is going to be able to stop it? When a government becomes dictatorial there is always the chance that the people will rise up against it, but that becomes less possible when the police have such control. Add a biometric ID card that by law you must carry & logs your location every time it is used & movement can also then be monitored. That which is happening today is not really the issue, it’s 10, 20 or 30 years from now that we need to be worried about.

JCM, Madrid, Spain

closer and closer we come to the New World Order. Hang on it's gonna be a helluvaride.

sunny s., houston TX, USA

I read recently on the bbc website that the police conduct short intervievs outside the safeguards of PACE(Police and criminal evidence act 1984).And ive read locally that criminals have spent longer in prison than they were origenaly sentenced to.These are not the indeterminate sentences that criminals now can be awarded.
The powers that be are already abusing their authorty and theres nothing any of us can do about it

ben, peterborough,

As some people have pointed out, the fact that Levy never had a sample taken whilst under arrest seems to imply that the government wish to build a database to keep a big brother eye on the population and leave out certain members of society. I, contrary to what some people will imply, have nothing to hide but simply do not wish to become no. 2643753 on a jobsworths computer. The government have proven time and again that they can't be trusted, so why furnish them with your most important possession. I can't imagine seeing members of the cabinet and Brown lining up with big grins to be first on the list. Unfortunately the fact is that the justice system doesn't punish criminals anymore so what good is having an enhanced way of detecting them. Burglary in this country apparently isn't a crime anymore as the police don't even bother turning up to a break in. You have to go to the police station and file the report yourself (and that's just for insurance). No chance of catchin 'im Gov.

Ed, London,

We (anglo based nations) are letting the world kill off our basic freedoms. Once we become like a 3rd world police state then no one will be left to defend freedom and liberty.

Jack, atlanta, ga/usa

No, its not the world that is killing off our freedoms, but our very own governments and they are getting away with it by peddling this threat of terrorism as an excuse to justify this ever tightening of control

Will, Grange, UK

I find it somewhat odd that DNA from non-incarcerable offenders would have any "identification" value to the cop on the street. They can't walk up to you, wave a wand, read your DNA and match it up on-line so that your name will pop up. It seems to me that they are "doing it" only because they can and because it benefits some vendor that's costing taxpayers a lot of money each year to maintain the data base. Surely the money could be better spent elsewhere.

Tony, Houston, TX

The police want to solve all crimes using technology, not any hard work or unsocial hours. Despite the growing DNA database i believe less than 3% of all crime is resolved by it's existence. This seems to be a very quick way for the police to lose all public confidence something our politicians are already suffering, they should not be surprised that they have lost public respect when they continue to allow these continual attacks on our privacy. I've long thought we should rename the home office as the gestapo, then at least the public would have a measure of the type of thinking prevelant from that organisation.

John, Wakefield, West Yorks

I'm glad I don't live in your police state.

Joe, New York, America

Unfortunatly I belive we are not too far from this in the United States. All convicted felons must submit thier DNA to a database. While I agree that this measure is appropriate for the worst criminals of our society I think the FBI and local police would love to have such a system for everyone. This could be implemented by either Democrats or Republicans. While many in this thread are telling the Britons to wake up Americans need to wake up just as well because we are not to far behind. More and more surveliiance is being installed everywhere in the US to the approval of both Democrats and Republicans.

Brandon, Salt Lake City, Utah

I can tell you this much. Here in the states if they tried to do this there would be such a public outcry that would make the politicians turn white. Why are you so willing to give up your freedoms for the supposed sense of security? It muggles my mind.

Elgin, Seattle Wa, USA

Might stop people littering tho? I think our society is TOO liberal and the authorities actually need to have some authority!
Everyone keeps banging on about rights and entitlements, well I think its gone too far!

Lindsay, Bristol,

I think it's about time we decided whether we want to allow this onrush of a totalitarian state, foisted on us under the guise of 'security'.

46 people aged over 90? Easy to see how they could pose a big risk to the rest of us.

We're supposed to be living in a democracy. Why can't we start behaving in a manner consistent with our so-called rights, and remove from power those who insist on playing mummies and daddies to the rest of us?

John Annis, London,

What makes anyone think that the Police (State!) will take any notice whatsoever of anyone who doesn`t agree with them. Why can`t they be upfront and say just how far they want to go. How about they get to do anything they want because that`s what it certainly seems like. Maybe for having the "wrong" haircut, dress, look, having your rubbish in the wrong bin, parking a fraction out of place etc and how do you protect yourself from a "capricious" policeman thinking of "something" just to get a DNA sample (the Courts? - they`re just mutual backscratchers). They want us to be the most spied on, tracked and monitored people on the planet. I really hope the tired old discredited "nothing to hide - nothing to fear" excuse isn`t trotted out. Thats just what Stalin could have said. Or Saddam. Or Mugabe. I`m sure there were people happy under them, but I thought we fought a war to stop things like this. How about DNA testing for just not agreeing with them. Now that really makes you a suspect!

Jim, Herts,

To those who think they have nothing to fear because they break no laws, I ask: Do you have any idea how many things are illegal?

In California, you can get a ticket for speeding, and you can get a ticket for holding up traffic. But they're not mutually exclusive. If the speed limit is 55, everyone else is going 70, (very common here) and you're going 60, you can get BOTH tickets.

Here in Santa Barbara, it's illegal to drive past a stopped school bus. But local schools routinely park their buses on the street all day. Backing up, or turning around, are also both illegal.

Bicycle riders are required to keep both hands on the handlebars at all times, yet they're required to signal all turns.

Just 3 examples. I could give hundreds. In our society, it's NOT POSSIBLE to comply with all laws at once. I doubt yours is any different. Even Blair said your crime problem is really an immigration problem. We all know it. But for a commoner in the UK to say that, would be illegal.

Robert, Santa Barbara, California/USA

The DNA Database: It would be naive to assume that it's use over time would be soley for the wellbeing of the society.

Adam Jarvis, Carmarthenshire, UK

Sorry to hear it, UK. I hope you're able to defeat this proposal.

For those Americans complaining of lost civil liberties here in the USA, please be specific. Which liberties have been taken away?

John, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

I don't know about you, but I'm an honest person who's not a criminal. I expect my word to be enough on any issue. Why then is there so much pressure to get my DNA and for me to have an ID card? We, as a country, have lost all trust and respect for our fellow men.

Vincent Murphy, London, UK

Over and over, Orwellian idealogy originates from England.
What is going on over there? What are you people so afraid of?
Please, keep it there and don't export it to the U.S. I'll never go there. You people would probably falsly accuse me of something.

Jim, Dayton, Ohio, U.S.A.

How can it be possible to steal some DNA and plant it at the scene? I would be surprised...

I wonder if that is what happened in the cash for honours investigation?

Pete Balchin, Solicitor , Bristol, UK

I just watched V for Vendetta the other day. I thought it was just a movie, but I see it's for real. STRENGTH THROUGH UNITY! UNITY THROUGH FAITH! ENGLAND PREVAILS!

George, Oakland, CA

I suppose we are moving towards the Germany of the 1930s and 40s here. Next it will be, "Your papers please," as they stop everyone at checkpoints as they travel around the country.

Driving 5 KPH over the posted speed limit or tossing a gum wrapper on the ground does not equate to murder where DNA evidence is needed for a conviction.

I would say I am glad I don't live in the UK and live in the US as well, but we have our own fair share of politicians who try to force their insane ideas of law on our citizens here.

Dave Hardesty , Tracy, CA/USA

It appears that the Stasi - disbanded around 20 to 25 years
ago,then known to be as bad as the gestapo of Hitlers era,has reared it's ugly head again in Britain,-one of the Countries involved in getting rid of the East German Stasi thugs. The Stasi too held databases,fingerprints,asked neighbour to snitch on neighbour, and much more.

Rob, Chichester, UK

I was arrested for something I didn't do, weighed, measured, DNA swabbed and placed in a cell overnight. Then released and told two officers had seen me commit an offence so take a caution or be charged. I took the caution in a lose lose situation. I am now on the database. Nothing to fear if you aren't a criminal, what a joke.

Stuart, Preston,

Wow is right! Do the citizens of the UK really believe their Government will never abuse these powers? I pray Americans will never agree to such horrors>

sandy heart, cheyenne, usa

Are there any depths the police won't sink to in their desperation to control the population of Britain? Oh, and you can forget using the 'Right to Private Life' argument against this, the courts have already ruled that the police can keep a database of any DNA they have collected, whether you are subsequently convicted or not. I wouldn't hold your breath expecting that the Tories would get rid of this invidious rule were they ever to return to power either. Big Brother isn't just a TV show, it's a fact of life in this country

Ian Gregory, Accrington,

The police are welcome to my DNA. I don't plan on starting a life of crime. Violent crimes are on the increase at alarming rates. So many offences from less serious to the most serious can be solved through DNA evidence and I don't see what the problem is on having DNA stored for the purposes of decreasing the crime rate and making this country a safer place which is what every law abiding person wants. I am sure those who are kicking up about this do not want rapists, murderers and paedophiles walking the streets. We should all do what we can to help the police get these people locked away and if this is the way to do it, so be it. As long as DNA is only stored and used specifically for the purposes of identifying those responsible for criminal activities, then what's the problem.

Claire, London,

I really don't see a police database of DNA samples as any sort of an invasion of privacy- As far as I know, law enforcement agencies' DNA databases are used primarily for two purposes- Their DNA databses are used to identify you if you commit a serious crime or you are a suspect in one, in which case, unless you are planning on committing a serious crime or crimes, you really have nothing to worry about- These same databses are also used to identify you if you fall victim to a violent crime or suffer any sort of medical emergency, trauma or accident, etc., in which case these DNA databases really are for the protection of everyone- In our country, there are currently proposals under discussion in which hospitals would take DNA samples of all newborn infants, in addition to fingerprints and footprints, and have these samples stored forever in a national database-

Scott Benowitz, Rye, New York, U.S.A.

One day we will wake up to find that all these folks ever want, whether "left" or "right," is power, with which they would personally enrich themselves. Laws and regulations from the council level straight up to the EU are so numerous, complicated and cumbersome that It is already possible for government to criminalize almost anyone if some politician or bureaucrat wishes to do so.

Yes, DNA sampling is a very helpful forensic tool and I have no worries about a database being compiled from criminals serving custodial sentences for violent crimes. Moreover, DNA records may one day be an important tool in health care but for now, government is far too centralized and corrupt to trust with the intimate molecular profiles of non-violent, nominally law-abing, ordinary human beings.

Jan Royce, Vaud,

There needs to be a debate but if you haven't done anything wrong, why would you be worried?

Paul, Aylesbury, UK

This is the sort of complacent comment that gets me very worried and is only allowing the authorities in this country to further tighten the grip on peoples liberties and rights. Remember that these were the sort of assurances that the Jews were given during Nazi Germany.

Will, Grange, UK

i think babies should be tatooed at birth, after all if they have nothing to hide they have nothing to fear.

dave , carlisle, uk

Your DNA are belong to us.
And your personal data too. Of course, it's in your best interest.
1984 and all that was quite amateurish compared to the real thing unfolding before our own eyes. Our generation is failing to defend the civil liberties we inherited from our forefathers. Our duty is to nurture and pass them on to future generation, not to give up the fight against faceless bureaucrats.
"The Home Office"? Who are they? They want to know all about us. We should want to know all about them. For a start, let's not forget we are paying them, not the other way round.
There seems to be something flawed in the democratic process when such basic rights are being attacked continuously without debate.
People of England, where are you? isn't it high time to speak?

John, London, UK

This is as bizarre as it is worrying. There's just no need for such an extreme and invasive measure. What annoys me more than anything though is the way in which this government (as well as the preceding one) simply DOES NOT LISTEN to its electorate, despite depending on them to exist. It's utter madness to ignore the will of the people who give you your job when all you do is take things away from them. I sense a rebellion brewing ...

Mark Thomas, Biddulph, Staffordshire, UK

Orwell...didn't you Brit's read the book? It ends badly.

Thomas Jefferson, Charlottsville, VA, USA

I hope the British will finally take to protesting in the streets over the Orwellian Nightmare the UK has become. How much longer before we see another youth movement to protest for freedom and rights the way we did in Vietnam?...only this time the issue is cameras invading our privacy, Big Brother taking our DNA for their twisted Eugenics Vision..and last but not least, Global MegaCorporations who hide behind the flags of nations while caring not one wit about the people in them beyond the desire to feel superior to those people and use them like cattle.

Rock Protest Concerts, Student Walkouts..none of this seems to be happening and I have to wonder why...

Angus MacPherson, San Francisco, Ca., USA

Welcome to a police state. This government pays lipservice to democacy but does what it wants. We as citizens of the UK have lots more freedoms e.g. right to protest in public and congregate in numbers in a public space in the last 10 years than ever before. This is not 'new labour bashing', this is fact. Our rights have been shaved away little by little. This is the last straw for me, when is the average person stand up and say NO! This new DNA collection initiative stinks of big brother tactics and has only 1 agenda, to expand the already huge database. I'm sure soon DNA will be taken at birth one day. Roll on a lottery win then I'm leaving Blighty as it's not the same great country it used to be. The police and MP's used to serve us the public however somewhere down the line the table's have turned on us.

Neal, Wokingham, England

Chris in Lichfield, someone who breaks into a house or attacks a person in a dark alley is a criminal, and criminals hold the law in contempt. Very often I think you will find these people couldn't care less about speed limits or littering any more than they care about walking off with someone else's TV. If you commit one crime you're likely to commit more, and if the police can pick up people's DNA on minor offences they may well chance upon a number of dangerous criminals in the process, which is why I personally think this is such a good idea.

I don't drop litter or drive over the speed limit, so why should I have a problem with it?

John, Surrey,

I'd be happier if there wasn't a past record of civil servants leaving laptops full of secret files in taxis, documents of confidential records on trains and generally being fairly lax about the security of their responsibilities. In fact, if there weren't any human beings involved in any part of this I'd feel safer.

M Jones, Brighton,

If this doesn't make your hair stand on end, I don't know what does. Give me liberty or give me death said Nathan Hale. Live Free or Die says New Hampshire. I couldn't agree more!

Marilyn, Houston, Texas, U.S.A

So, the authorities want "officers to be allowed to take DNA and fingerprints from suspects outside the custody environment " ( a lovely politically correct euphemistic piece of jargon meaning simply 'anywhere')as "a means of increasing officer confidence in knowing who they are dealing with". If an officer does not have the confidence to deal with a total stranger, then why is he or she considered psychologically fit to be in the police force? This is but a lame excuse and justification for unwarranted harassment of the general public. We have been threatened with electronic chips in our rubbish bins; are items of litter now to be dusted for fingerprints, tested for DNA and anyone in the vicinity at the time (identified by your friendly neighbourhood CCTV camera) to be fingerprinted and DNA-tested? How does this enable the police to be more efficient? How does this help them catch real criminals when they are using up all available time and resources on littering and speeding?

Rod Wheeler, Folkestone, UK

what's next? it's only the matter of time when all the DNA samples are going to be used for more than just finding a criminal - try checks for genetic testing of illnesses... those who are not deemed perfectly fit are not being employed any more, not being taken under the insurance contract, not being allowed to have children... you name it.

criminal is only the poor excuse. real reasons behind this database are much deeper.

cherry, vienna,

I don't understand why everyone isn't required to submit their dna... I mean who cares if your dna is on file, everyone has dna there isn't anything private or special about it.

Having a population wide DNA register would help solve crimes and identify victems, and would enhance medical treatment.

Here in the states folks worry about insurance companies refusing to insure people based on their genes, but in the UK its all socialized, so i can't really see anything wrong with doing this there.

It is really no different than giving the police access to fingerprints, hair samples, pictures, voice recordings, except that it is more accurate. To me it seems only criminals would be against this.

but i will agree with Mon and others that you blokes are dumb like rocks for letting them take your firearms.

matt, Denver, Colorado, USA

Wow, who would have thought Great Britain the mother Country of the United States would start to slide into the world of George Orwell's 1984.

Kenneth A. Crips, Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA

If G R from Ayr is fine with the police taking his (or her) DNA for a non-imprisonable driving offence, then I'm sure they wouldn't mind if the police also installed CCTV cameras in their bathrooms, read all of their personal mail, photographed them naked each day and listened in to all their phone calls.
Speaking for myself, I think the police should stick to investigating crimes (which I believe is their actual purpose) and stop trying to control the population through surveillance.

M Jones, Brighton,

....if you haven't done anything wrong, why would you be worried? - Paul, Aylesbury, UK

-----------------------------------------------------
because our legal system is based on the assumption that people are innocent until proven guilty. Running millions of dna samples against crimes supports the basis that we are all criminals but simply haven't been caught yet

dij, Truro,

George Orwell, come back. All is forgiven.

Sharpaxe, Colorado springs, US

I like the comment "nothing to hide, nothing to fear" In that case you should not bother locking your doors, and the police should be able to search your house, car, or person on demand without probable cause. After all, nothing to hide, nothing to fear. Hitler did the same, and it worked for him.

Keith , Southfield, MI, USA

I read that Lord Levy, Ruth Turner and Sir Christopher Evans did not have their DNA taken when they were arrested over the cash for honours scandal.

It is also alarming to see that a number of Police Forces are backing these proposals. The Police are supposed to be providing a public service, not lobbying for legislation to be passed by Parliament which essentially turns them into a politically motivated organisation. Look to history to see what happens once the police become politically involved. Not a pretty picture.

Motorists really need to refuse to give DNA though I doubt that many will. I don't know whether citing the cash for honours people as a good reason not to give DNA would work.

Simon, Sevenoaks, Kent

Are you folks absolutely determined to have George Orwell's 1984 in your lifetimes? What on earth is wrong with you? Stand up on your hind legs and DO something about it!

Chris, Loveland, Colorado, USA

I thought the Stasi(east german secret service) had been broken up obviously not as they are now here.
Next you will get your Dna taken just for walking on the street's !!!!

Chris, Leeds,

The Police are supposed to *enforce* the law in this country, not *make* it.

It seems, though, that they are constantly asking for more powers and more control over our every movement and action.

If my DNA is on the database I am automatically a suspect in any crime where DNA evidence is found and will be unless and until I can be eliminated from the list.

However, despite what we're told, DNA evidence is *not* foolproof and false positives do occur.

But how do you convince someone of that? "I was hundreds of miles away at the time!" I protest. "Ho yus! We've got your DNA at the scene sonny , you're nicked!" comes the response.

Maybe I should get hold of one of Charles Clarke MP's handkerchiefs and plant it at the scene of a crime and see how the Police react to that...

Graham Marsden, Portsmouth, UK

This is but one consequence of a policy of uncontrolled immigration. Just what is the word which describes that creeping feeling of alienation from the mindset of most other citizens of your country of birth?

Mike Carter, Chichester,

I accept that there should be concerns over improper use of such data. However, there is also the aspect that no victim would be unidentifiable even if their remains had been mutiliated beyond recognition.

P Richards, H Wycombe, Bucks

I would like to believe this would be shot down in America but we are becoming a complacent heard forced to focus on feeding ourselves and getting out of debt. However, at least their would be more protests here than in G.B. It will not matter due to the strong ties between our countries.

Once this goes through, travelers will have to submit their DNA to get into Great Britain or anywhere in the E.U. Then the real database will begin and we will all be able to be studied. The quack conspiracy theorist (some are) have always based their extreme views in reality. We already have cameras everywhere but what for are they used? Crimes are committed and yet the police don't have access.

Our governments are not our governments any longer; there will be an uprising and no one will win. The future does not look appealing so I won't bring any children into this world.
There's too much beyond just DNA recording and I digress back to my job. Good luck to all.

John, Austin, Texas, USofA

My family fought and died for the freedom of this country. I am not willing to trade their legacy for my "security".
What's next a bar code on me scanning every where I go?
Can't get into the library unless I have the bar code, or the doctors, hospital, school?
We already have more CCTV cameras than any other country, has that reduced crime?
If we roll over on this we might as well start a queing at the police stations.

J Wallace, Kirkcaldy, Fife

I find the whole proposal disturbing to say the least, but some of the posts here disturb me almost to the same extent. Hysterical baloney about the Nazis/Gestapo (save me, please, from such political illiteracy), police states, Orwell etc. Please. Get a grip and lose the histrionics. The implications of this proposal are dangerous and potentially erosive on our freedoms. They are not Nazism or Orwellian or any other silly analogy.

Mark, Worthing, UK

This all started and is an extension of allowing drug testing. You are guilty till proved innocent, and have to submit to an unwarrented search and siezure. Nobody spoke up then, so now here we are.

RJ, Harrisburg, PA USA,

Wow,
Really makes me want to vacation in England or Wales. As a retired US Police Officer, the idea of taking admissible evidence from someone committing a traffic violation makes me wonder about your Criminal Justice System. Our System may have some holes in it, but not a hole this big for the Government to us against me. And remember, as this report states, once they have your information, they have it FOREVER. And with the ability to match DNA back or forward generations, they now have your children's, DNA to the 100th generation. Happy thought!!!

Ed Gallagher, Livonia, MI, USA

Just because your DNA is at a crime scene does NOT MEAN YOU COMMITED THE CRIME! Your DNA can be deposited by spitting on the pavement, by your hair falling out, by scraping your arm on a corner. Your DNA is virtually EVERYWHERE you've ever been. Now, let's say 5 MINUTES after you leave the scene, a major crime gets committed. The poilce do a simple search, find your DNA, identify you by the database, and charge you with a series of serious crimes that may send you to prison for life. This type of scenario has played out many times in the past, and it will play out many more in the future if this insane plan goes forward.

Eric, Chicago, IL

it's already too late for the british. once you start down the road of govenment intervention in virtually all aspects of personal affairs there is no turning back. the momentum for more intervention takes on a life of it's own and each step justifies the next. if a society agrees that the govenment can provide anything other than the bare essentials as outlined in the us constitution, the end of liberty is in sight. unfortunately the us is just a little "behind" in imposing more controls...our time is here now and is getting much worse. it's all so sad.

demetrious, san jose, california

If you aren't doing anything wrong, why would you have a problem with the government watching over your shoulder and monitoring your every move at all times? If you aren't doing anything wrong, then why would you have a problem with every single thing you ever do potentially being subject to scrutiny by some unknown monitor whose job it is to keep tabs on you and record everything you ever do? What possible objection could you have to the government, FOR YOUR SAFETY and THE SAFETY OF YOUR FELLOW CITIZENS, watching you at all times, ready to pounce on you for the smallest misstep?

What, do you love freedom and liberty or something?

If "having nothing to hide" is a reason to give complete control over your life to the government, then maybe the fact that the governmet has nothing to hide should be a reason that individuals can monitor and follow and see televised the lives and intimate details of each and every person with any sort of government power, first.

James, Brielle, New Jersey, USA

3 or 4 years ago, there was an horrific case where a burglar had broken into the home of a 76 year old couple. He beat them both half to death with his fists before making his escape. the old man died after being in a coma, and his wife survived, physically at least.

bloodied gloves were found in nearby bushes. the victims' blood was found on the outside, and their attcker's on the inside. police were able to arrest the murderer after matching his dna from an arrest for drug dealing a year earlier.

nicely wrapped up? Not at all. whilst he had been charged with drugs offences, he had managed to get off at court. as the police were not then allowed to retain his dna, the gloves were not admitted, and a vicious murderer walked free.

will richards, Droitwich,

Here in the US, the prevailing attitude with reference to policing powers has always been "better that ten guilty go free than a single innocent is wrongfully imprisoned." The flip side of this traditional attitude designed to prevent wrongful prosecution is plenty of frustration when the public perceives that an accused person's rights are treated with as much care as the victim of a crime. Before the British nation submits to this, I hope there is a consensus of opinion about the rights which all of its citizens will inevitably surrender for the benefit of fighting crime.

Justin, Philadelphia, PA, USA

From the Magna Carta to beyond Orwell's worst nightmare.Not only would I never live in Britain,I would never want to visit such a prison.Even the communists dictators of the old Iron Curtain days had some restraint.Your government now feels none.Britain is no longer a free society,but a gulag with elections.

Millard Fillmore, Norfolk,Virginia, U.S.A.

This is crazy. I would fight to the death with an out of control government.trying to get my DNA for a petty speeding ticket. Wake up before this one world one government that share all databases becomes a reality.God bless the United Kingdom.

Greg, Clinton, USA,Tennessee

In response to Chris in Lichfield, yes of course the police want everyone's DNA on their database. Then all they have to do to solve a crime is walk round to the right house and arrest you.

And as soon as they realise you might be out that day, they will be looking for RFID chips to be implanted in everyone so they can track your movements in real-time - all in the name of public safety of course.

This brght idea should be a real test for the Conservatives - if they cannot oppose this effectively, they might as well go home now.

Duncan, London, England

I'm sorry to have to say this but It's time for another civil war. If the English people of 1642 were to witness what's happening to their descendants they would be speechless and ashamed of us.

Where is a our Queen? Where are the Generals are they all bought and corrupt as are our political traitors?

If something is not done soon we are surely on the way to enslavement and captivity. It's only a matter of time.

Charles Crosby, Bournemouth, UK

This is the logical consequence of that which you all voted for, so now you can all be happy with the outcome. Democracy does not equal freedom and the law does not equal justice.

Charles Smyth, Belfast, Antrim

Once the UK let them take the guns away, you started to lose rights.

Funny how that works isn't it?

Once the government has nothing to fear, they start in with totalitarian tactics such as this.

There is no hope for the UK, a society that "feels safer" with spy cameras on them and no privacy.

Mon, The good old, USA

I am sure this is not what G_d had intended. Man thinks they are the ruler over us. I guess the people are not listening when the flooding happened over in the UK. No man can beat the power of G_d. Believe me when the time comes, man will have to answer to him. Because what is happening on this planet is beyond man ability to stop it because of the greed and power. Like the movie V for Vendetta.

Only the lord can stop this now, Los Angeles, USA/California

Let's have everyone DNA'd or restrict it to proven criminals - it is utterly wrong for some one proven to not be guilty of an offence to have to be treated any differently from someone never accused

James, Sevenoaks, Kent

Well Britain another one eh, sson you will not be able to breathe without a licence, why does the state think it has the right to treat us like animals.

If we dont wake up soon we will all have chips in our bodies and be tracked every where, our thoughts check out on a momnet to moment basis,

No chip will mean you cant see a doctor, send your kids to school, or even get a book from the libary.

Never mind get a job or pay bills, no checks, no cash just payment by chips.

You can see it coming now, people using debit cards everwhere.

Again folks wake up, it is up to us to stop them.
John

John Armitage, Le Taillan Medoc , France

I take offense at the comments of those who ask, "If you haven't done any thing wrong, why would you worry?". HERE'S WHY - If your DNA is in a database, it is that much easier for someone to steal DNA from you and plant it at a crime scene, implicate the innocent and muck up the system in general. Not to mention the ballooning of government bureacracy and the budget for implementing and maintaining something like this. Add to this the incompetence of the police and the greed of insurance companies and you have an Orwellian mess indeed! Stalin would have loved this idea.

Mark, Dallas, TX

I am utterly appalled at this suggestion, the Police already have the power of arrest for any offence, can already access all our emails and mobile phone messages/texts, I wonder what will be next. As for having children on the database it is utterly shameful and they should all be removed.

If you are innocent of any charges the Police bring aginst you, then the database should be cleared of your records.

Unfortunately the Police cannot be fully trusted, as there have been many abuse's by officers of their powers of arrest, perhaps that is why we have so many young black males on the database, they can't all be criminals. We also need to look at the security of the database from unauthorised access to its information. This is because DNA can be used to identify relatives who have not been sampled and could lead to false arrest. DNA unfortunately is also not fool proof and should not be used as the sole means to reduce the clear up rate for unsolved crimes.

Jack, London,

John, London, UK: "isn't it high time to speak?"

Obviously not. The general public will simply not accept that these Draconian changes since New Labour came to power could ever be used against us. My late mother used to say, apropos of the Germans and their support for the Nazis in the 1930s, "It could never happen here; we are just different." Problem is, it IS happening here and we still refuse to acknowledge it. Look how quickly the Nazis took power. Their propaganda machine was in excellent running order, too, and today the State has the advantage of technology to help it know all about us. Of course, voters imagine that only Labour/Tory/Lib Dem governments are feasible, but what if a new fringe party that sought to address many people's fears suddenly got a lot of support? Maybe a future Britain, under the control of the UN for our own good following major incarceration and a preemptive strike to "help" us will look back on these times and rue the day when apathy ruled.

Mike Mitchell, Spalding, England

Wow! Someone speeding - and perhaps having an accident and injuring or killing someone accidentially is on the same level as someone committing rape or murder! And just the superb logic of "Well, if someone breaks a minor law, it means that a base of breaking any law is immediately set up". I mean, WOW!

And the world calls us stupid. I am so happy I don't live in the UK and have to deal with such lunatics or hear that happy little voice going "well, if you don't commit a crime, why should you worry?"

James Campbell, Wheeling, WV, USA

every day i read about some horrific abuse of civil liberties in the U.K. . i thought it was horrendous in the U.S. but i see it is nothing compared to "great" britiain. you people just elected POODLE II. how can you just roll over and allow this kind of shite?

rowdy, Jacksonville, florida

Once we are all on the database why not abolish the police as all that will be required is for someone to pop along to the crime scene and take a swab followed by a quick check on his computer as to who's DNA it is. With the new biometric ID cards we will all be forced to carry in the near future, which will no doubt be fitted with transponders locating the villain will be easy and its job done. We are now living in an open prison and democracy and freedom are long dead. Socialism at its most extreme Stalin would be proud of this government.

Steve P, Leeds, England

This is outrageous, we hall have to refuse this state interference, and stick together on it., it's gone too far. Get a backbone Brtiain for heaven sake before it's too late.

My DNA belongs to me and me alone, i am not a criminal and refuse to be treated like one.

Samantha Jones, Bucks , England

It's an excuse to get your DNA, sure, so that they can compare it with samples from any crime. It doesn't matter what you've done that leads them to take it. But we all know that most serial killers for example are traditionally caught after being stopped for a broken tail light... and the random approach does mean that no actual detective work need be done...

Jon, Winchester, UK

They want your DNA because of all the information it reveals about you. As the human genome is decoded, government, employers, insurance salespersons, banks, and everybody else will be able to read what diseases you are genetically predisposed to and make decisions affecting you without your control. Government et al will have this increased power over you, but you will not have any more power over your government. In fact, it is just one more means of rendering you helpless and vulnerable to the whims of bureaucrats who have their own interests in mind, not yours. Eventually all people will be monitored and controlled from cradle to grave- the journey of which is adjustable by those with enough power.

Fred, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA

And so it starts. We are only a few steps from mandatory curfews to protexct us from street crimes. After that, perhaps we will all have to be radio tagged - so much simpler to make us safe. And then? Maybe we should arrange for recidivists who smoke, drink, talk in public, arrive late for work, ask for a pay rise, forget to kow-tow to a police officer or government minister, or commits any other similar offense to be sent to psychological reprogramming centres.

Our government has gone mad with power. It HAS TO BE STOPPED!

Mike, London,

It is no surprise that the police would like all of our biometric details, have us stay in our homes and only make excursions upon written notice when properly tagged and monitored and that we should not be allowed free assembly of three or more.

This the agenda of any police force in any society, ever. What is different is not the agenda but that modern technology and the current government have facilitated it under false aegis. This is the road to tyranny.

"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both." - Benjamin Franklin.

Martin, London, England

I would be more than happy to volunteer my DNA to the police,this would automatically eliminate me from any crime commited,since I have no intention of going into crime. I never saw this as a problem .The same goes for identity cards,at present I use my plastic driving license for that purpose,where I am asked very often "Bring in your passport and utility bills" (Sounds familiar?
Can any of us open a bank or B.S.account without proof of identity?Instead of dozens of different docs.I go around with one which I keep in my wallet.If any of you do the same,and your wallet gets pinched,the police will not find my DNA on it,which is the essence of my opening argument..At this point,WHERE can I leave my DNA please?

james hazan, huddersfield, uk

And I was worried that the American government is taking away our civil liberties! At least we're not living as if 1984 was our handbook! Unbelievable.

Adam Wolek, Syracuse, USA/ NY

So many people are eager to forget about Tony Blair yet fail to remember Eric Blair a.k.a. George Orwell.

If anyone had any sense, civil rights groups would be screaming at the tops of their lungs to oust Kath Mashiter and all of the rest of the Big Brother apparatus attempting to realize a panopticon. Renaming the UK to Oceania would be doubleplusgood.

Mike, Ontario, Canada

We have entered a very stage stage of our civilisation.The police are hellbent on gaining more and more power.The Gestapo did the same thing and look where that led to.Our forfathers sacrficed themselves to defend our freedom.These are the same Police that shot Menendez as a terrorist suspect and yet they were wildly wrong.They then covered up the story in the immediate aftermath.
Let's not let the rise in terrorism be a cover for a dangerous rise in police powers.
The Police state has arrived on these shores and God help us all.

James, London,

This would never be tolerated in America! The UK used to be a nation of brave, courageous people. As an American of British ancestry, I am proud of Britain but can see clearly the birthplace of the Magna Carta soon will evolve into a police state where only people who wear odd looking clothing from other parts of the world will be respected. Pretty, sad.

Alexis, Los Angeles, USA

"this should be considered as preferential to allowing a serious offender to walk from custody following arrest for a non-recordable offence.”

While any arrest should be taken seriously, there seems to be a disparity between an offence that is "non recordable", and a serious offender. If an offence is deemed not serious enough to be recorded, it seems that the application of the term "serious offender" should be reconsidered.

Ed, Cambridge,

Ok seriously what the heck has happened to the UK? What is next? Cameras in your homes? If you have nothing to hide why shouldn't the police be able to do random video spot checks of your houses? It’s to protect the children right???

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE????

"people willing to trade their freedom for temporary security deserve neither and will lose both" benjamin franklin

Greg S, Marana, USA / Arizona

If they want everyone's DNA, why hide behind petty offences like driving too fast ? Why not just take everyone's DNA at birth, and tattoo a serial number on the back of our necks ?

Come on, this stupidity has to stop. Not everyone has dreams of rape, looting and pillaging, and even less take action. Just investigate crime and leave law-abiding citizens alone, for once.

Adam Cox, Dangu, France

If you are arrested and convicted in court of any offense it is right that your DNA should be taken. This means that as a convicted criminal it will be easier to catch you later. We do not require every single persons DNA on a register somewhere as this takes away our civil liberties and no-one can trust the government not to use it in different ways later.

Joseph Kellie, Edinburgh, Scotland

DNA taken from people who are arrested for drink-driving and minor offences is solving rapes and murders almost daily. There are many paedophiles and rapists locked up and unable to commit such crimes because DNA was taken in very different circumstances. There needs to be a debate but if you haven't done anything wrong, why would you be worried?

Paul, Aylesbury, UK

So does this mean that somebody who commits a horrific crime like murdering somebody can avoid being captured if they don't throw a empty packet of crisp out of a speeding car??!!

brian, scotland,

I would mention Orwell, but it's just too easy

Adam , Frackville, USA

Register your own DNA as a trademark then, every time it is scanned as part of a search, they have to pay you royalties. Lovely jubbly!

David Masu, Zürich,

The State has control of your DNA! They also have control of your medical records. Your DNA is also an indication of your future illnesses. The State to save money due budgetary constraints, as they would know who not to offer medical care too as it would be a waste of money. Your DNA can then be used to rule you out of Life Insurance. Your DNA is your genes, if your genes are substandard then your are a substandard person and you will be discriminated against.

Ian B, Reading, UK

Excellant idea, this will be a good way of keeping tracks on offenders. The lawless in society are increasingly breaking the law that seeks to maintain safety for the community.

Terry Amos, Leicester, leicestershire

Without law and order there can be no freedom. With freedom comes responsibility and if you abuse that responsibility you loose your freedom. If we are loosing our liberty why dont we blame the criminals for a change instead of everbody else.

Don, Leicester,

We need a database of every police officer's DNA and fingerprints so that members of the public can biometrically verify that the person approaching them on the street with a view to taking their DNA and fingerprints is in fact a police officer.

As a matter of human nature, policemen cannot be above suspicion:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6918712.stm

Kevin, London,

G R, Ayr - Speeding is a civil code traffic offence and not criminal in any shape or form.

And please don't give us that self-righteous tripe that you've never exceeded the speed limit even accidently under any circumstances ever.

Cliff, Marseille,

"he who gives up his freedom/liberty for security, deserves neither!"

this is a quote of our founding fathers and still holds true today, even for the people who live in the UK!

joe, USA, USA

What a surprise from the country that tried to kill liberty in the first place!!

I am scared we are heading in the same direction.

We (anglo based nations) are letting the world kill off our basic freedoms. Once we become like a 3rd world police state then no one will be left to defend freedom and liberty.

Jack, atlanta, ga/usa

I've no problem with any of my details being added to a database, if by their addition it would help rule me out of a crime and help reduce the likelihood of the real perpetrator getting away with the act.
I would however add the caveat that any information I provided would be guaranteed safe and secure from tampering or other abuse...at this time computer databases are not secure enough to be entrusted with such sensitive and possibly damning information.

K. Owen, goole, yorkshire

Maybe, as a driving licence is a privalige and not a right, a DNA sample should be given as part of the application to have one!

Nothing to hide nothing to fear. What a torn up country we live in, there are so many serious issues with this country and people moan about a tool which can help keep the country safer for everyone!

Jon, Cumbria, UK

The problem we have today is most people look at these proposals in a vacuum. Where they really need to be put alongside everything else that's going on. Consider mandatory ID cards, GPS chips in everyones cars for (toll billing) and warrantless searches of premises to "ensure no-one's smoking".

Couple that with being added to the national suspect database for the most trivial of infractions and the idea of a pliceman demanding to see your "papers" on any whim that pleases him and the state's power to lock you up for prolonged periods thanks to the ant-terror laws and you have a very good definition of a police state.

MRab2, Worcester,

Scandalous and scary, nannystate gone mad.

C Lattek, London,

I'm curious to know whether members of the police, the armed forces, MPs, civil servants and other people on the state payroll have been made to supply a DNA sample?

If the link between criminality and a presence on the DNA database is to be broken and the widest possible net is to be cast over the population then surely the above group should be leading by example.

Garvin, London, UK

We must overthrow this 'liberal' dictatorship!

Power to the democratic majority!

Terry, London, GB

"If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face — for ever."

I always thought 1984 was supposed to be a warning. Perhaps naively I never thought that a modern British government would use it as a policy road map.

Winston, Glasgow, UK

DNA taken from people who are arrested for drink-driving and minor offences is solving rapes and murders almost daily. There are many paedophiles and rapists locked up and unable to commit such crimes because DNA was taken in very different circumstances. There needs to be a debate but if you haven't done anything wrong, why would you be worried?

Paul, Aylesbury, UK

All, I can say is I am completely appalled. I can be fined for numerous breaches of the law that do not give me a criminal record so why should I be treated like a criminal. This is a breach of my civil liberties & I am horrified. Do not use the excuse about how it will catch one guilty indivivual while thousands will be tarnished. Our legal system works on the principle that it is better for a guilty man to go free rather than jail an innocent one. If you want a European concept that we are all guilty until proven innocent you have plenty of countries in Europe to move to!

S.Pearce, London,

The police must be put under no illusion that this outrageous idea is not on.
They are getting far to big for their boots.

Michael J Rigby, Blackburn, England

Chri, Lichfield - you may be a criminal but I am not. I don't speed. I don't put others at risk by my actions. You may think that because many speed that is ok but if you do you are as much of a criminal as a burglar or a mugger (after all they don't kill 10 people a day as drivers do). I think all drivers should have their DNA taken when they offend in any way. After all if they brazenly and repeatedly commit road traffic offences what is their attitude to other crimes going to be?

G R, Ayr,

All Police States have to control the population for their own protection. Something not found in any Free Democratic State anywhere on this planet.

Ian B, Reading, UK

Its amazing to watch how a once proud people cower and permit the local and National Government tell you to pay huge tolls just to drive into London, to how you must love your unassimilated masses who hate your Anglo guts.

Falconflight, Fort Worth , Texas

Scary!