NO2ID

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/engl ... 389479.stm

Page last updated at 18:40 GMT, Tuesday, 1 December 2009

'Bar row' ex-MP makes DNA demand

A former MP who had a conviction for harassment overturned on appeal is demanding her DNA, taken at her arrest, is removed from the national database.

Helen Clark represented Peterborough between 1997 and 2005. She was arrested after a row with staff at the city's Great Northern Hotel in June 2008.

The ex-teacher received a conditional discharge in March, which she said stopped her from working with children.

Cambridgeshire Police said they had had no correspondence about her DNA demand.

Mrs Clark told the BBC: "The last 18 months have been a living hell because I have been having to put up with people thinking that I was a criminal.

"I was also unable to work in education, charity concerns or any aspect of public affairs because I would have failed a Criminal Records Bureau check.

"This meant that I was officially deemed unsuitable for working with children or vulnerable people."

...

It would take a heart of stone not to laugh at this one.....

During her time as an MP Helen Clark (nee Brinton) supported the retention of DNA. This situation was fine for her constituents, but now it's not good enough for her apparently.



I hate to break it to you Helen, but you'll still probably fail a CRB check as your party also legislated to ensure that acquittals, allegations and rumours are treated the same as convictions for the purpose of enhanced checks.

Is it me, or is she clearly admitting that if ANYTHING shows up on your CRB, you are unable to work with children or vulnerable adults. Why the pretence from Govt and employers with their 'having a criminal record is not necessarily a bar to employment' rubbish?

This is apparently what she thinks, but we have no idea if it's actually true.

Just because she was an MP doesn't mean she knows anything about any particular law she voted for - her job was to walk through the appropriate lobby when instructed by the whips, not to make decisions :-).

However, this does raise an important point - if people think that having a DNA sample on the database is a bar to working with children, they'll avoid applying for those jobs to avoid the possible embarrassment of being turned away. If enough people believe this, it will effectively become true.