DNA database of suspects proposed

English and Welsh forces have been able to retain samples since 2001

Proposals to allow the police to keep the DNA of all crime suspects, even if they are later proved innocent, have been announced by Labour leaders.

Currently DNA samples taken when people are arrested in Scotland must be destroyed if the individual is not charged or convicted.

However, samples and fingerprints are retained in England and Wales.

Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said the plan, to be contained in Labour's manifesto, would protect the public.

Earlier this year, MSPs voted to allow forces to keep the DNA of individuals accused of serious violent and sexual offences for up to three years, even if they were never charged or convicted.

The new power, which was opposed by the Conservatives, SNP and the Greens, has not come into force yet.

Ms Jamieson said: "The question that other parties have failed to answer is why families in England should get better protection from criminals than in Scotland and why the police there should have more tools at their disposal for catching criminals than the police here.

Ms Jamieson said the plan would be contained in Labour's manifesto

"I was always keen to get a similar system in Scotland but other parties resisted it."

The minister claimed that when authorities in England were allowed to retain samples from anyone suspected of a crime, forces were able to link more than 7,000 suspects to more than 10,000 cases.

She said: "There were more than 100 murders or attempted murders in that total and over 100 rapes too.

"These are all identifications that have only been possible because of the DNA database there."

Scottish Greens justice spokesman Patrick Harvie said it was unjustified to keep DNA samples from innocent people.

The Glasgow MSP said: "Scotland struck a reasonable balance on DNA retention earlier this year, but Labour wants to abandon that.

"Targeted retention of the DNA profiles of known high-risk individuals is justified, but putting millions of innocent people on the government's DNA database is unjustified, and unlikely to help combat crime."

The position in England and Wales was similar to that in Scotland until a change in the law in 2001.

A Home Office survey carried out last year revealed that from 31 March there were an estimated 198,000 DNA profiles on the national database which would have had to be removed under the previous law.