http://www.computeractive.co.uk/ca/news ... -retentionProtection of Freedoms Act outlines rules for DNA retentionProvides guidance on DNA and fingerprint data retention
* Dinah Greek
A new law governing the gathering and retention of data including biometric and DNA information has come into force.
Under the Protection of Freedoms (PoF) Act, which received Royal Assent on 1 May, police will have to destroy DNA and fingerprint data if it is deemed to have been collected unlawfully or based on mistaken identity.
Although the Supreme Court ruled last year that police guidelines that allowed DNA samples taken during criminal investigations to be retained indefinitely were unlawful, the PoF does allow for "indefinite" retention in some cases.
This includes where arrested suspects have been guilty of a previous serious crime previously and for national security purposes unless a Biometrics Commissioner decides that it is "not necessary" for those purposes that the information is retained.
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