British DNA database grows amid concern

LONDON, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- As the British DNA database grows to more than 3 million people, privacy proponents argue against sweeping inclusion and possible misuse.

The London Telegraph reports 4.25 million people will have their DNA samples recorded by the Home Office, which is roughly one in 14 people.

The government has bolstered the DNA Expansion Program over the past five years with more than $521 million in funding.

The Home Office defends it with statistics showing a quadruple jump in crimes solved with DNA evidence.

But Lynne Featherstone, a spokeswoman for the Liberal Democrat Party called it "an intolerable infringement of liberty and personal privacy."

The DNA program records and keeps samples of those convicted, as well as those acquitted, arrested but not charged and victims.

Featherstone also worried about misuse of the database.