Family of Kevin Lavelle loses ‘dumbbell’ legal bid – BBC News

“The family of a man who died in a pub fight after being attacked with an iron dumbbell have lost their latest legal bid to find his killer.”

Full story

BBC News, 18th April 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Canterbury rapist jailed after cold case DNA probe – BBC News

“A Lancashire man has been jailed for life for a rape in Canterbury more than 20 years ago after latest scientific techniques helped to find a DNA match.”

Full story

BBC News, 14th April 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

How Protection of Freedoms Bill will work – BBC News

“MPs are to debate the government’s Protection of Freedoms bill later, which ministers claim will protect millions of people in England and Wales ‘from unwarranted state intrusion in their private lives’.”

Full story

BBC News, 1st March 2011

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Relaxing DNA rules could reduce rape convictions, Labour warns – The Guardian

“The government is running the risk of making it more difficult to convict rapists by relaxing the rules for retaining the DNA of suspects, the shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper has warned.”

Full story

The Guardian, 28th February 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

DNA profiles to be deleted from police database – The Guardian

“Profiles of thousands of innocent people on national database will be removed as new freedoms bill scales back state intrusion.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th February 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

ID cards go up in flames in first step to tackle ‘database state’ – The Independent

“Identity cards will be consigned to history today as the database recording the biometric details of thousands of people goes up in flames. Hard disk drives from the national identity register, which underpinned the ID card scheme, will be shredded and incinerated in a symbolic demonstration of efforts to rein back the ‘database state’ and restore civil liberties.”

Full story

The Independent, 10th February 2011

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Innocent DNA retention to be challenged – Daily Telegraph

“Police chiefs could be forced to clear the DNA database of innocent people ahead of any change in the law under a legal challenge that begins today.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 31st January 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Rape victim not allowed to know truth about adopted child – Daily Telegraph

“A rape victim who gave her baby away 20 years ago because she could not be sure if the child was her husband’s cannot now find out the truth because of adoption rules, a court has heard.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 20th October 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Jail for man who raided Lincolnshire cash machine – BBC News

“A man who helped remove a cash machine using a stolen digger in Lincolnshire has been jailed for five years.”

Full story

BBC News, 2nd September 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

New evidence may clear postman of sex attack after 14 years in jail – The Guardian

“Lawyer for Victor Nealon says crucial forensic evidence was left untested as surgeon insists wrong man was convicted.”

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd August 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Human rights: from Europe to the UK – The Guardian

“A new government report on the implementation of European Court of Human Rights judgments has highlighted the vexed issue of the rightful place of such rulings in domestic law. Many decisions, such as on prisoner voting rights, have languished for years unimplemented and it remains to be seen whether the coalition government will do any more to fulfil its legal obligations to the thousands affected.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th August 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

DNA jails ‘merciless’ rapist after 20 years – The Independent

“A 39-year-old man was jailed for 13 years today for beating and raping a mother in her home in a ‘prolonged and merciless’ attack 20 years ago.”

Full story

The Independent, 27th July 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Regina (GC) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis; Regina (C) v Same – WLR Daily

Regina (GC) v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis; Regina (C) v Same [2010] WLR (D) 193

“When it was not possible to reconcile a decision of the House of Lords in relation to the proportionality and legitimacy of the indefinite retention on the United Kingdom’s Police National Computer of biometric data obtained in the course of criminal investigations with a subsequent holding by the European Court of Human Rights that the policy was unlawful, the doctrine of precedent and legal certainty demanded that the Divisional Court should follow the decision of the House of Lords, notwithstanding that both the previous government and the newly elected government of the United Kingdom had signalled their intention to amend the relevant legislation.”

WLR Daily, 19th July 2010

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Fears over new EU snooping powers for police – Daily Telegraph

“The proposed power would allow officers from an EU country to demand information on anyone they suspect of an offence, no matter how minor or whether it is even criminal in the UK.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 16th July 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Man jailed for 1986 rape – The Independent

“A rapist was jailed for eight years today after admitting a horrific sex attack on an 18-year-old woman on waste ground 24 years ago.”

Full story

The Independent, 7th July 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Michael Mansfield QC awarded outstanding achievement prize – The Guardian

“The Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards honour Michael Mansfield QC and other lawyers who show a commitment to publicly-funded work.”

Full story

The Guardian, 4th June 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government outlines plans on privacy and surveillance – OUT-LAW.com

“The new Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition Government said that it will beef up freedom of information law and reduce the number of people whose details are held on the Government’s DNA database.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 13th May 2010

Source: www.out-law.com

Sexual predator who ran website for paedophiles jailed – Daily Telegraph

“A sexual predator whose past violent crimes were exposed when he was caught operating a members-only website for paedophiles has been jailed for 14 years.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 30th April 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Man jailed for 18-year rape after advancements in DNA – BBC News

“A rapist who carried out an attack on a woman nearly 18 years ago has been jailed for 10 years after scientists used advances in DNA technology.”

Full story

BBC News, 25th March 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Man jailed for eight years for 1987 rape – The Independent

“A handyman who raped a woman in her own home 23 years ago was finally jailed for eight years today after he was caught thanks to the DNA database.”

Full story

The Independent, 19th March 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Dog DNA used in conviction for teenager’s murderer – The Guardian

“A 22-year-old man who repeatedly stabbed a teenage boy was today facing life in jail after the first case in which new dog DNA technology was used in a murder prosecution.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th March 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Man jailed for life over 1983 murder of Colette Aram – The Guardian

“A businessman was jailed for life years after he raped and strangled a teenage girl and boasted to murder squad officers that he would never be caught.”

Full story

The Guardian, 25th January 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

DNA profiles removed at rate of only one a day – The Independent

“Innocent people’s DNA profiles are being removed from the national database at a rate of barely one a day, figures showed today.”

Full story

The Independent, 14th January 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

DNA matches solve only a fraction of crimes, police admit – The Guardian

“Only 33,000 of the 4.9m crimes the police recorded last year were solved as a result of a match on the national DNA database, police admitted today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th January 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

New safeguards urged over routine police DNA tests – BBC News

“Police should not routinely DNA test everyone they arrest, the government’s genetic advisers have concluded.”

Full story

BBC News, 24th November 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The Big Question: Why is Britain’s DNA database the biggest in the world, and is it effective? – The Independent

“Why are we asking this now?

The Home Office has announced a sweeping overhaul of the world’s largest DNA database, which now contains the genetic profiles of more than five million Britons. Civil liberties anger has focussed on the inclusion of samples taken from everyone arrested by police, regardless of whether they have ever been found guilty of an offence.”

Full story

The Independent, 12th November 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Terror suspects’ DNA could be held for life – The Independent

“Terror suspects who are released without charge could face having their DNA profiles stored for life, it was revealed today.”

Full story

The Independent, 11th November 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Home Office to keep DNA of innocent for six years, not 12 – The Guardian

“Home Office ministers are expected to announce a six-year limit on the retention of DNA profiles on the national database for people arrested but not convicted of any offence, bringing it more in line with Scotland, where five years is the norm.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th November 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

More than one in 10 people on DNA database for first time – Daily Telegraph

“Police forces in England and Wales have taken the profiles of 5.5 million people, meaning the proportion of the population on the system has passed a tenth for the first time.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 27th October 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Detections using DNA database fall despite huge rise in profiles – The Guardian

“Detections using the national DNA database have fallen over the past two years despite the number of profiles increasing by 1m and its running costs doubling to £4.2m a year.”

Full story

The Guardian, 21st October 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Home Office climbs down over keeping DNA records on innocent – The Guardian

“Civil liberty campaigners claimed a victory today (19 October) after the government announced it is dropping current proposals to retain the DNA profiles of innocent people on the national database.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th October 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Police urged to erase DNA record – BBC News

“A Worcester firefighter who was cleared of causing death by dangerous driving is campaigning to have his DNA sample taken off the National Police Database.”

Full story

BBC News, 13th October 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rapist caught out by DNA jailed – BBC News

“A rapist who attacked two women in Sheffield in the mid-1980s has been jailed for 17 years.”

Full story

BBC News, 1st October 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Doubts over DNA profile timing – BBC News

“Fresh doubts have emerged over proposals to limit how long the DNA profiles of innocent people can be held on the national database.”

Full story

BBC News, 25th September 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

DNA tests for asylum seekers ‘deeply flawed’ – The Guardian

“Asylum seekers are to be subjected to DNA tests in an attempt to confirm their true nationalities, the Observer can reveal.”

Full story

The Guardian, 20th September 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Police ‘should stop taking DNA of innocent immediately’ – Daily Telegraph

“Ministers should instruct police forces to immediately stop taking the DNA of innocent people, the Equality and Human Rights Commission said.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 15th September 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Police given assault warning over DNA samples taken from children – The Guardian

“Police officers who take ‘voluntary’ DNA samples from children under 16 without their written consent or that of their parents are legally committing an assault, the Home Office’s ethics group on the national DNA database has warned.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th September 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Damian Green wins fight to destroy personal data held by Met police – The Guardian

“Fingerprints, DNA and records of Tory MP arrested over Home Office leaks deleted as ‘exceptional case’.”

Full story

The Guardian, 20th August 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

More than 300 children a day added to DNA database – Daily Telegraph

“More than 300 children a day are being put on to the DNA database, fuelling fresh fears over the growth of the ‘Big Brother’ state.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 12th August 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Police to ignore European Court of Human Rights ruling on stored DNA – The Times

“Chief constables have been told to ignore a landmark European Court ruling and continue storing the DNA samples of innocent people.”

Full story

The Times, 8th August 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

‘Racist bias’ blamed for disparity in police DNA database – The Guardian

“Almost one in four black children over 10 have had their profiles placed on the police DNA database. The disclosure has sparked claims from the chair of an influential parliamentary committee that the disparity with white children is undermining social integration.”

Full story

The Guardian, 9th August 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

File loss blunder in rape case – BBC News

“A man suspected of raping a woman 12 years ago cannot face prosecution, as the police have lost the case file.”

Full story

BBC News, 28th July 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

* News * Politics * DNA database DNA database plans based on ‘flawed science’, warn experts – The Guardian

“‘Flawed scientific thinking’ in the government’s proposed changes to the DNA database will leave it open to further challenges by the courts, experts have said, in a stark attack on Home Office plans to overhaul the current system.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th July 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Amending the law on the DNA database needs proper scrutiny – The Times

“Last December the European Court of Human Rights decided in S and Marper v The United Kingdom that the retention by the State of DNA profiles is a breach of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. That is because information about people arrested for, or charged with, an offence but not subsequently convicted, is kept on the national DNA database for an unlimited period of time. The Government has accepted the judgment of the European court and announced that it will change the law to ensure compliance. But its proposed method of doing so is unsatisfactory and needs reconsideration.”

Full story

The Times, 2nd July 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

DNA policy ‘stigmatises children’ – BBC News

“DNA samples are being taken from children in a London borough at the rate of nearly one a day, figures show.”

Full story

BBC News, 8th June 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Appeal judges asked to clear notorious murderer Dr Crippen – The Observer

“The case of one of the most notorious murderers in British history, Hawley Crippen, is to be referred to the Court of Appeal, where the infamous doctor may secure a posthumous pardon 99 years after he was hanged.”

Full story

The Observer, 7th June 2009

Source: http://observer.guardian.co.uk

Fury as Commons denied DNA vote – The Guardian

“Jacqui Smith, the home secretary, has been warned that the government risks further damaging the public’s faith in politics after it emerged that plans for the police to keep innocent people’s DNA profiles for up to 12 years will become law without a Commons vote.”

Full story

The Guardian, 24th May 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Jail term cut for girls’ killer – BBC News

“The first man jailed using DNA evidence has won an appeal against his 30-year minimum sentence for murdering two Leicestershire schoolgirls.”

Full story

BBC News, 14th May 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

DNA pioneer condemns plan to keep details on database for 12 years – The Guardian

“The government’s plans to reform the national DNA database were condemned yesterday by lawyers for the two innocent men whose European court victory forced ministers to change the rules.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th May 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Teacher Matthew Wren wins battle to have DNA records deleted – The Times

“A teacher has won a High Court battle to have his DNA destroyed after he was unlawfully arrested by police when accused of assault by a pupil.”

Full story

The Times, 7th May 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Wrongly accused people could have DNA on database for 12 years – The Times

“The DNA profiles of people released without charge or found not guilty by a court could be stored for up to 12 years on a national police database.”

Full story

The Times, 7th May 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Jacqui Smith says DNA database profiles of 800,000 innocent people will be axed – The Guardian

“The home secretary, Jacqui Smith, will publish plans this week for the destruction of the DNA profiles of nearly a million innocent people from the police national database. The government’s response follows a ruling by the European court of human rights last year that the practice of retaining the DNA profiles was illegal.”

Full story

The Guardian, 3rd May 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

DNA search for miscarriages of justice – The Guardian

“The head of the organisation that investigates alleged miscarriages of justice has ordered an urgent review of cases where DNA evidence is involved to find whether there are long-term prisoners whose innocence could now be scientifically proved.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th May 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

DNA founder criticises database – BBC News

“The inventor of the genetic technology behind the national DNA database says it risks losing support because it holds the records of innocent people.”

Full story

BBC News, 15th April 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

DNA pioneer Alec Jeffreys: drop innocent from database – The Guardian

“The inventor of genetic fingerprinting, Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys, today warns that the government is putting at risk public support for the DNA national database by holding the genetic details of hundreds of thousands of innocent people.”

Full story

The Guardian, 15th April 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk