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Page last updated at 07:44 GMT, Thursday, 7 May 2009 08:44 UK

'Big risks' with large DNA database

Up to 850,000 innocent people in England and Wales who appear on a national DNA database will have their profiles wiped.

Home Office minister Vernon Coaker says keeping the DNA of people who are arrested will ensure murderers and rapists who would otherwise escape justice will be convicted.

Shami Chakrabarti, head of civil liberties organisation Liberty, says that while DNA evidence is useful, the bigger the database is, the bigger the risk it will be abused.

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