European Court targets database samples

LONDON, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- The European Court of Human Rights says fingerprint and DNA samples obtained from individuals who were never convicted should be removed from databases.

The court ruled Thursday that samples from suspects acquitted of charges should be removed from national databases used by British police because they violate an individual's right to privacy, The Times of London said.

Samples from individuals who have charges against them dropped should also be removed, the court said in its landmark judgment.

British DNA databases contain 5.1 million samples and an estimated 800,000 are from individuals never convicted of any crime.

British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said ministers would consider the judgment, but all samples would remain intact until they reach a decision on the matter, The Guardian said.

"DNA and fingerprinting is vital to the fight against crime, providing the police with more than 3,500 matches a month, and I am disappointed by the European Court of Human Rights' decision," Smith said.

The Daily Telegraph said Scotland already employs a DNA sample destruction system, which is used when an individual is not formally charged or is acquitted.