Charles Arthur Charles Arthur

Only people who have been arrested are placed on the DNA database. Somente as pessoas que foram presas são colocados no DNA database. Photograph: Press Association Foto: Press Association

Can you support Britain’s current DNA database yet oppose plans for biometric ID cards? Você pode apoiar Britain's actual DNA database ainda opor planos para biométricos ID cards? That’s the question I’ve been wrestling with this week. Essa é a pergunta que eu tenha sido wrestling com esta semana. The answer, as you’ll see, isn’t trivial. A resposta, como você verá, não é trivial.

The past week has seen three men convicted of murder, and all three were either convicted or suspected of multiple killings. A semana passada viu três homens condenados por homicídio, e todos os três foram condenados ou seja suspeita de vários assassinatos. In two cases, DNA evidence proved vital: their DNA had been acquired through the current procedure whereby if someone is arrested his or her DNA is taken and recorded (as a set of 20 numbers) on the national database. Em dois casos, DNA prova provada vital: seu DNA tinham sido adquiridas através do actual processo em que, se alguém está preso o seu ADN está tomada e registradas (como um conjunto de 20 números) sobre a base de dados nacional. Previous crimes where DNA has been recovered but no other match found are then checked against new entries. Anterior crimes onde DNA foi recuperada, mas nenhuma outra correspondência encontrados são, em seguida, verificado em relação a novas entradas.

And DNA, being almost the ultimate biometric, is very indicative. E DNA, sendo quase a derradeira biométricos, é muito indicativa. There are even cases that have been solved because someone has given a DNA sample and the database has suggested that someone related to them has a link to an unsolved crime. Há mesmo casos que foram solucionados porque alguém deu uma amostra DNA e banco de dados tem sugerido que alguém relacionadas a eles tem um link para um crime por resolver.

It is beyond argument that the database is a fantastic tool for solving crime. Está fora argumento de que o banco de dados é uma fantástica ferramenta para resolver crime. I think it is also right that arrest should be the trigger for taking a sample, since it’s logical that someone who has committed a serious crime will probably commit smaller ones too. Acho que também é justo que prisão deve ser o gatilho para tomar uma amostra, uma vez que é lógico que alguém que tenha cometido um crime grave provavelmente irá cometer pequenos demais. (And that’s why I’m against the (E é por isso que estou contra o case currently being brought Caso actualmente a ser interposto by two people who were arrested but not charged and want their DNA details removed from the database. Por duas pessoas que foram detidas, mas não cobrados e querem que seus DNA detalhes removidos da base de dados. Arrest may be a weak indicator, but it’s still an indicator.) Detenção pode ser um indicador fraco, mas ainda é um indicador.)

False convictions Falsas convicções

Equally, I’m against widening DNA collection to the whole population. Da mesma forma, estou contra o aumento DNA recolha de toda a população. The reasons were Os motivos eram elegantly spelt out in The Guardian on Thursday Elegantemente enunciado no The Guardian na quinta-feira by Professor Allan Jamieson: “The larger [the database] becomes, the greater the chance is of a fortuitous ‘hit’, false conviction, and unnecessary stress on individuals and resource deployment by the police.” And since the Home Office minister Tony McNulty agrees, I don’t think there’s much risk of the DNA database encompassing all of us. Pelo professor Allan Jamieson: "A maior [banco de dados] torna-se, maior a chance é de um fortuito 'hit', false convicção, e desnecessário insistir sobre indivíduos e implantação dos recursos por parte da polícia." E uma vez que o Home Office ministro Tony McNulty Concorda, acho que não há muito o risco de DNA de dados abrangente de todos nós.

OK, but what about biometrics — iris scans, fingerprints, facial recognition — for ID cards? OK, mas o que dizer de biometria - iris scans, impressões digitais, reconhecimento facial - para os bilhetes de identidade? After all, consider benefit fraud, which is Afinal, consideram benefício fraude, que é estimated Estima to have cost the taxpayer £2.5bn in 2006/7. Para o contribuinte tem custo £ 2.5bn em 2006 / 7. There’s an Há um interesting exchange in last year’s Hansard Interessantes em troca do ano passado Hansard in which a minister for the Department of Work and Pensions says that “the introduction of identity verification services, to be provided by the Identity and Passport Service as part of the National Identity Card scheme, will have a significant impact on the ability of fraudsters to make claims for social security benefits using more than one identity.” No qual um ministro para o Departamento de Trabalho e Pensões diz que "a introdução de identidade verificação serviços, a serem prestados pela Identidade e Passaporte Service, como parte da National Identity Card regime, terão um impacto significativo na capacidade dos fraudadores para Fazer pedidos de prestações de segurança social utilizando mais de uma identidade. "

That’s fine — except that in an earlier question in that exchange, Derek Wyatt asks what estimate has been made of how much could be saved by having a verifiable national database of addresses (which presently doesn’t exist). That's fine - exceto que, em uma pergunta anterior, em que a troca, Derek Wyatt pergunta que foi feita estimativa de quanto poderia ser salva por ter um banco de dados de endereços nacionais verificáveis (que actualmente não existe). The minister replies: “There has been no estimate made of the value of fraudulent claims which could be detected annually if a definitive national database of addresses existed.” O ministro responde: "Não foi feita estimativa do valor dos créditos fraudulentos que poderiam ser detectados anualmente se um direito nacional de dados de endereços existia".

So it’s one of those things where the government has only worked out the answers to the questions it likes, rather than all the possible answers. Portanto, é uma daquelas coisas em que o governo tem trabalhado apenas as respostas para as perguntas que quiser, em vez de todas as respostas possíveis. It’sa long way from what you’d call “science” - or even rigour. É um longo caminho desde o que você chamaria de "ciência" - ou mesmo rigor.

Ludicrous and expensive Absurda e dispendiosa

More to the point, an ID card would be used to prevent benefit fraud — not to prove who committed the crime after the fact. Mais ao ponto, o bilhete de identidade seriam utilizadas para evitar fraudes benefício - e não para provar que cometeu o crime após o fato. If you had to give an iris scan when making each benefit application, that would make multiple fraudulent applications harder. Se tivesse de dar um scan íris quando tornando cada benefício aplicação, que tornaria mais difícil múltiplas aplicações fraudulentas. The fact that one woman could claim for an amazing O fato de que uma mulher poderia reclamar de uma espantosa 18 non-existent children 18 inexistente crianças doesn’t suggest that the system for detecting unusual claims is very robust at the moment. Não sugere que o sistema de detecção de sinistros é muito robusto incomum no momento. But making parents and children come to an office for iris scans and fingerprinting before they can get child benefit would create a ludicrous, expensive system that could still be gamed (what about children visiting from abroad? You’d have to iris-scan and fingerprint everyone). Mas, tornando os pais e as crianças vêm de um escritório de íris e impressões digitais scans antes de poderem obter benefício infantil iria criar um absurdo, caro sistema que poderia ser ainda gamed (o que acontece com as crianças visitam vindos do estrangeiro? Você tem que scan-íris e impressão digital Todos).

It is that presumption of guilt, though — the thinking that you’re only out to cheat the system — that seems so wrong about the national biometric database. É que a presunção de culpa, porém - a pensar que você é só para enganar o sistema - que parece tão errado quanto o nacional de dados biométricos. Leave aside the issue of how secure it might be. Deixar de lado a questão de saber como assegurar que seja. Nobody can change your biometrics, just as they can’t change your DNA, so it’s actually rare in being a database you could happily stick on CDs and post around the country. Ninguém pode mudar sua biometria, do mesmo modo que não pode alterar o seu DNA, por isso é fato raro em um banco de dados que você poderia estar feliz stick em CDs e pós em todo o país. The key is that it assumes you’re guilty. O fundamental é que ele assume que você está culpado. And that’s what I don’t like. E isso é o que eu não gosto.

The point about the DNA database is that it only comes into play after a crime has been committed, and when someone is suspected of it. O ponto sobre o DNA de dados é que ele só entra em jogo depois de um crime tenha sido cometido, e quando alguém se suspeita dela. At that point, you become a suspect in all unsolved crimes with DNA evidence. Nesse momento, você se torna um suspeito em todos os crimes por resolver com DNA prova. (And perhaps others where your details might match those from other crimes.) (E talvez outros onde seus detalhes possam corresponder aos de outros crimes.)

But in claiming benefit, or trying to board an aeroplane, we’re not committing a crime. Mas, em benefício alegando, ou tentando bordo de um avião, não estamos a cometer um crime. And in a society that likes to call itself “free”, the presumption of innocence is surely the most important title we can give everyone, even if it is disappointed by fraudsters and killers. E, numa sociedade que gosta de chamar-se "livre", a presunção de inocência é certamente o título mais importante que podemos dar a todos, mesmo se ele está desapontado por fraudadores e assassinos. It has been the bedrock of our legal system for centuries. Tem sido a base de nosso sistema jurídico há séculos.

And that, in short, is why I support the DNA database, even for suspected criminals, but do not support a nationwide biometric database. E que, em suma, é por isso que eu apoio o DNA de dados, mesmo de criminosos suspeitos, mas não suportam uma ampla de dados biométricos. Innocent unless proven guilty is an important freedom. Inocentes salvo comprovada má-se de uma importante liberdade. Let’s stick with it. Let's stick com ele.

Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Tether has secured a House of Commons debate on the impact of the proposed National DNA Database, which takes place today. Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Tether tem assegurado um Câmara dos Comuns debate sobre o impacto da proposta de DNA de Dados Nacional, que se realiza hoje. It has been welcomed by human rights, mental health and church groups. Ele foi saudado pelos direitos humanos, saúde mental e grupos religiosos.

The campaigning organisation Black Mental Health UK (BMH UK) says that it is especially concerned about the likely discriminatory impact of such a database on black and ethnic minority people. A campanha organização Black Saúde Mental Reino Unido (UK BMH) diz que é especialmente preocupado com o provável impacto de tais discriminatórias uma base de dados sobre as pessoas negras e das minorias étnicas.

With African Caribbean persons routinely entering mental health facilities via the police and criminal justice system, BMH UK is calling for the removal of thousands of black patients whose names have been added to the database during the process of securing mental health care. Com Africano Caribe pessoas rotineiramente entrando saúde mental instalações através do sistema policial e de justiça penal, BMH UK está solicitando a remoção de milhares de negros pacientes cujos nomes foram acrescentados à base de dados durante o processo de obtenção de saúde mental.

The National DNA Database adjournment debate will come before parliament on Friday 29 February 2008 at around 2.30pm. O Nacional DNA Database adiamento debate virá antes parlamento na sexta-feira, 29 Fevereiro 2008, em torno de 2.30pm.

The government’s own figures suggest that 77% of young black men will soon have their details held on the database, despite evidence that black people are actually no more likely to have committed a crime than white people, says BMH UK. O governo da própria números sugerem que 77% dos jovens homens negros em breve terão os seus detalhes detidos na base de dados, apesar das evidências de que as pessoas negras são realmente nada mais provável que tenha cometido um crime do que as pessoas brancas, diz BMH UK.

The UK has the largest National DNA Database in the world, with 4.5 million profiles set to be held by the government by 2010. O Reino Unido tem o maior Nacional DNA Database no mundo, com 4,5 milhões de perfis definidos para ser realizado pelo governo em 2010. There are currently 500,000 people on the database who have no current conviction, caution, formal warning or reprimand. No momento, existem 500000 pessoas no banco de dados que não têm curso convicção, prudência, formal advertência ou repreensão.

Black Mental Health says that the misapplication of data could lead to innocent people being condemned in the future. Black Saúde Mental afirma que a aplicação indevida dos dados poderia levar a pessoas inocentes sejam condenados no futuro. A spokesperson declared: “The public have no way of knowing how secure this information is. Um porta-voz declarou: "O público não tem forma de saber como obter esta informação seja. What if someone steals your DNA? E se alguém rouba seu DNA? … Losing child benefit details is one thing, but a person’s DNA is part of who they are. … Perder criança beneficiar detalhes é uma coisa, mas uma pessoa do DNA faz parte de quem eles são. This is another hostile move against personal freedom and civil liberties.” Este é outro movimento hostil contra a liberdade individual e as liberdades civis ".

“When people who need help are taken in by the police we find that they are very quick to take a swab rather than ensure the well-being of the person,” commented the Rev Paul Grey of the New Testament Church of God, a Pentecostal denomination. "Quando as pessoas que precisam de ajuda são tomadas pela polícia em nós achamos que eles são muito rápidos a tomar um algodão embebido em vez de assegurar o bem-estar da pessoa", comentou o Rev Paul Grey do Novo Testamento da Igreja de Deus, uma Pentecostal Denominação.

“It is disturbing to know that those needing health care are on a criminal database. "É preocupante saber que aqueles que necessitam de cuidados de saúde estão em uma base penal. Wherever this is the case, it is imperative that their details are removed as quickly as possible. Sempre que tal for o caso, é imperativo que os seus dados sejam removidos o mais rapidamente possível. What kind of a society criminalises those who need help?” asked Matilda MacAttram, director of Black Mental Health UK. Que tipo de sociedade criminalises aqueles que precisam de ajuda? "Perguntou Matilda MacAttram, diretor do Black Saúde Mental UK.

“The over-representation of black people on the government’s database should horrify anyone who cares about justice and fair play. "O sobre-representação dos negros no banco de dados do governo deveria horrify quem está preocupado com a sua justiça e fair-play. There is a real danger that the DNA database just reinforces the myth that black people are more likely to commit crime, and that is a very dangerous untruth. Existe um risco real de que o DNA base apenas reforça o mito de que negros são mais propensos a cometer crimes, o que é muito perigoso untruth. The truth is, if you are black, you are no more likely to commit crime and more likely to be a victim of crime,” Sarah Teather, MP for Brent East, added. A verdade é que, se você for negro, que não são mais propensos a cometer crimes e mais probabilidade de ser vítima de um crime ", Sarah Teatro, MP para Brent East, acrescentou.

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/6837 Http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/6837

Mixed results Mixed resultados

A national DNA database could well increase, not reduce, the number of wrongful convictions A base nacional DNA poderia mesmo aumentar, e não diminuir, o número de condenações faltoso

Allan Jamieson | Allan Jamieson | The Guardian The Guardian

Three killers have been convicted this month of appalling crimes. Três assassinos foram condenados este mês de terríveis crimes. Two were implicated through DNA profiling. Dois foram implicados através do DNA profiling. The aftermath has seen renewed calls for both a universal DNA database and the death penalty, bolstered by a belief that advances in scientific evidence would eliminate the risk of wrongful convictions. O rescaldo viu renovada reclama simultaneamente uma base de dados de ADN universal da pena de morte, reforçada por uma crença de que avanços na evidência científica permitiria eliminar o risco de falsas convicções. Keeping everyone’s DNA profile in the universal database could make a significant impact on the investigation of crime. Mantendo-se assim da DNA no perfil universal de dados poderia ter um impacto significativo sobre a investigação do crime. But there are also cogent reasons why it would increase the risk of convicting innocent people. Mas há também razões convincentes que aumentaria o risco de condenação pessoas inocentes.

The UK database is already the largest in the world. O Reino Unido de dados já está a maior do mundo. Profiles produced from crime scenes are now easily checked against that database, which at first mostly included only those convicted of serious offences. Perfis crime cenas são produzidos a partir de agora facilmente verificado contra essa base, o que, em primeira principalmente incluídos apenas os condenados por delitos graves. Now the net is much wider, with people who have been neither charged nor convicted still on the database. Agora o líquido é muito mais ampla, com as pessoas que foram condenadas ainda não cobrados nem sobre a base de dados. As a scientist who works on behalf of the defence in assessing DNA evidence - and challenged the validation of low copy number DNA in the Omagh bomb trial - I have some experience of the difficulties involved in such cases. Como um cientista que trabalha em nome da defesa na apreciação DNA provas - e desafiou a validação da cópia baixo número DNA no Omagh bomba julgamento - Eu tenho alguma experiência das dificuldades envolvidas em tais casos.

DNA profiling technology has improved from days when we needed a splash of blood or a good-sized stain. DNA profiling tecnologia tem melhorado de dias, quando precisávamos de um esguicho de sangue ou de uma boa mancha de tamanho. We can now obtain profiles from something that may have been only touched, and match DNA from just a few cells. Podemos agora obter perfis de algo que pode ter sido apenas tocado, e correspondem DNA a partir de apenas algumas células. From a system that had match probabilities of thousands, we are in the era of billions. A partir de um sistema que tinha correspondência probabilidades de milhares, estamos na era da bilhões. This is where the problems begin. Este é o local onde os problemas começam. For many cases, the issue is not: “Is it my DNA?” It is: “How did it get there?” Para muitos casos, a questão não é: "Será que o meu DNA?" Trata-se: "Como é que ele chegar lá?"

The police are likely to conclude on the basis of a database match that they, more likely than not, are investigating the guilty party. Os policiais são susceptíveis de concluir, com base em um banco de dados que lhes correspondem, mais provável que não, estão investigando o culpado. The investigative process can then follow a pattern of accumulating circumstantial evidence. O inquérito processo pode seguir um padrão de acumulação de provas circunstanciais. Once this process results in a charge, an error can be compounded by the jury failing to appreciate the difference between threads of evidence all dependent on that first “identification” by DNA. Uma vez que este processo resulta em uma taxa, um erro pode ser agravado pelo júri não apreciar a diferença entre threads de provas todos os dependentes de que o primeiro "identificação" por DNA. Juries, police, and lawyers can struggle with the many misunderstandings of probabilities, conditional match probabilities, odds and frequencies. Júris, policiais e advogados podem lutar com os muitos equívocos das probabilidades, condicional correspondência probabilidades, probabilidades e freqüências.

The police claim prosecutions will not be mounted on DNA evidence alone. A polícia alegação acções penais não será montada no DNA prova sozinho. This is not correct. Isso não é correcto. There are cases where DNA alone could provide compelling evidence for a prosecution (for instance, a full profile obtained from an intimate sample from a rape victim when the defendant claims no contact) and cases where the DNA is irrelevant. Existem casos em que DNA sozinho poderia fornecer uma prova de um procedimento penal (por exemplo, um perfil completo obtido a partir de uma amostra íntimo vítima de um estupro, quando o réu alega nenhum contato), bem como casos em que o ADN é irrelevante. There are no hard and fast rules. Não existem regras duras e rápidas.

Nevertheless, an “innocent” match being used to assemble a circumstantial case in court raises the very real prospect of false convictions. No entanto, um "inocente" corresponder a ser utilizado para construir um circunstancial caso em tribunal coloca-se a muito real possibilidade de falsas convicções. Excluding any DNA evidence from the case if it has been used to identify the suspect in the first instance might protect against this. Excluindo quaisquer provas de DNA o caso, se tiver sido utilizado para identificar o suspeito, em primeira instância podem proteger contra isso.

I suspect most people imagine that all DNA profiles obtained emanate from blood, semen, or some other clear stain. Suspeito que a maioria das pessoas imagina que todos os perfis ADN obtidos provenha de sangue, esperma, ou alguma outra mancha clara. But often there is no visible stain at all, and the profile is a mixture. Mas muitas vezes não é visível em todas as manchas, eo perfil é uma mistura. Mixtures create the potential for more difficulty. Misturas criar o potencial para um maior dificuldade. By way of illustration: if I have profile AB and you have profile CD, our mixed cells would have a profile ABCD. A título de ilustração: se eu tiver perfil AB e você tem perfil CD, o nosso misto células teria um perfil ABCD. However, the same profile could be produced by two people with profiles AC and BD, or AD and BC. No entanto, o mesmo perfil pode ser produzido por duas pessoas com perfis AC e BD, ou AD e BC. If this mixture was found at a crime scene, we now have six “suspect” profiles. Se essa mistura foi encontrado na cena do crime, que agora têm seis "suspeito" perfis. If the person with the BD profile is unlucky enough to live in the area where the crime was committed, BD now needs to explain why he has no association with the material found at the scene. Se a pessoa com o perfil BD unlucky é suficiente para viver na área onde o crime foi cometido, BD precisa agora de explicar porque é que ele não tem qualquer associação com o material encontrado no local. In fact, a mixed profile could generate about 60,000 suspects. De facto, um misto perfil poderia gerar cerca de 60000 suspeitos.

Technical and procedural issues associated with this powerful criminal investigative tool have been, and are being, resolved. Técnicas e questões processuais associadas a este poderoso instrumento de investigação criminal foram e estão a ser resolvidos. However, the difficulties will be compounded and amplified if more individuals are on the database. No entanto, as dificuldades serão agravadas e ampliadas se mais pessoas estão na base de dados. The larger it becomes, the greater the chance is of a fortuitous “hit”, false conviction, and unnecessary stress on individuals and resource deployment by the police. A maior torna-se, quanto maior a chance é fortuita de um "hit", falsa convicção, e desnecessário insistir sobre indivíduos e recursos implantação pela polícia. Success, in thinking that we are convicting more criminals, could encourage further steps that will increase the errors. Sucesso, em pensar que estamos a condenação mais criminosos, poderia encorajar novas medidas que irão aumentar os erros.

Failure to use DNA properly will almost certainly result in unintentional but significant damage that could threaten its more restricted but beneficial use. A incapacidade para utilizar corretamente DNA irá quase certamente resultar em danos significativos não intencionais, mas que poderia ameaçar a sua utilização mais restrita, mas benéfica. This is a wide-ranging and important debate that requires an understanding of the scientific and procedural aspects of criminal justice systems and the frailties of both. Este é um amplo e importante debate que exige uma compreensão das comunidades científica e os aspectos processuais da justiça penal e dos sistemas frailties de ambos.

Phone numbers and credit card data to be collected under expanded EU plan Os números de telefone e de cartão de crédito a ser recolhidos dados ao abrigo do plano da UE ampliada

Airline passengers will be monitored at every stage of their journey under the proposals. Airline passageiros serão controlados em cada etapa da sua viagem sob as propostas. Photograph: David Levene Foto: David Levene

Ian Traynor Ian Traynor

Passengers travelling between EU countries or taking domestic flights would have to hand over a mass of personal information, including their mobile phone numbers and credit card details, as part of a new package of security measures being demanded by the British government. Aos passageiros entre os países da UE ou tomando vôos domésticos teriam de entregar uma massa de informações pessoais, incluindo os seus números de telefone móvel e informações de cartão de crédito, como parte de um novo pacote de medidas de segurança a ser exigido pelo governo britânico. The data would be stored for 13 years and used to “profile” suspects. Os dados serão guardados por 13 anos e servirá para "perfil" suspeitos.

Brussels officials are already considering controversial anti-terror plans that would collect up to 19 pieces of information on every air passenger entering or leaving the EU. Bruxelas funcionários já estão considerando controversa anti-terror planos que possa recolher até 19 peças de informações sobre todos os passageiros aéreos entram ou saem da UE. Under a controversial agreement reached last summer with the US department of homeland security, the EU already supplies the same information [19 pieces] to Washington for all passengers flying between Europe and the US. Ao abrigo de um controverso acordo alcançado no Verão passado com os E.U. departamento de segurança interna, a União Europeia já fornece a mesma informação [19 unidades], para Washington para todos os passageiros que voam entre a Europa e os E.U..

But Britain wants the system extended to sea and rail travel, to be applied to domestic flights and those between EU countries. Mas Bretanha quer o sistema alargado para os transportes marítimos e ferroviários viagem, a ser aplicada aos voos domésticos e entre os países da UE. According to a questionnaire circulated to all EU capitals by the European commission, the UK is the only country of 27 EU member states that wants the system used for “more general public policy purposes” besides fighting terrorism and organised crime. De acordo com um questionário distribuído a todas as capitais da UE, a Comissão Europeia, o Reino Unido é o único país, de 27 estados membros da UE que pretende que o sistema utilizado para "fins de carácter mais geral das políticas públicas" além de combater o terrorismo eo crime organizado.

The so-called passenger name record system, proposed by the commission and supported by most EU governments, has been denounced by civil libertarians and data protection officials as draconian and probably ineffective. O chamado sistema de registro nome do passageiro, proposto pela comissão e apoiadas pela maioria dos governos da UE, foi denunciado por civis libertários e de protecção de dados funcionários como draconianas e provavelmente ineficazes.

The scheme would work through national agencies collecting and processing the passenger data and then sharing it with other EU states. O regime de trabalho através das agências nacionais recolha e tratamento dos dados sobre passageiros e, em seguida, que partilha com outros Estados-Membros da UE. Britain also wants to be able to exchange the information with third parties outside the EU. Bretanha também quer ser capaz de trocar as informações com terceiros fora da UE.

Officials in Brussels and in European capitals admit the proposed system represents a massive intrusion into European civil liberties, but insist it is a necessary part of a battery of new electronic surveillance measures being mooted in the interests of European security. Funcionários em Bruxelas e nas capitais europeias admitir o sistema proposto representa uma invasão maciça em Europeia liberdades civis, mas insisto que é uma parte necessária de uma bateria de novas medidas de vigilância electrónica a ser sugerida no interesse da segurança europeia. These include proposals unveiled in Brussels last week for fingerprinting and collecting biometric information of all non-EU nationals entering or leaving the union. Estas propostas incluem revelados em Bruxelas na semana passada, para recolher impressões digitais e dados biométricos de todos os não-nacionais da UE que entram ou saem da união.

All airlines would provide government agencies with 19 pieces of information on every passenger, including mobile phone number and credit card details. Todas as companhias aéreas que fornecem agências governamentais, com 19 peças de informações sobre todos os passageiros, incluindo número de telefone celular e cartões de crédito. The system would work by “running the data against a combination of characteristics and behavioural patterns aimed at creating a risk assessment”, according to the draft legislation. O sistema deverá funcionar por "executando os dados contra uma combinação de características e comportamentos que visa criar uma avaliação de risco", de acordo com o projecto de legislação.

“When a passenger fits within a certain risk assessment, he could be identified as a high-risk passenger.” "Sempre que um passageiro se encaixa dentro de um certo risco avaliação, ele pode ser identificado como um alto risco de passageiros."

A working party of European data protection officials described the proposal as “a further milestone towards a European surveillance society. Um grupo de trabalho de funcionários europeus de protecção de dados descrito a proposta como "mais um marco histórico no sentido de uma sociedade europeia de vigilância.

“The draft foresees the collection of a vast amount of personal data of all passengers flying into or out of the EU regardless of whether they are under suspicion or innocent travellers. "O projecto prevê a cobrança de uma grande quantidade de dados pessoais de todos os passageiros que voam para dentro ou para fora da UE, independentemente de eles estão sob suspeita ou inocentes viajantes. These data will then be stored for a period of 13 years to allow for profiling. Estes dados serão então armazenadas por um período de 13 anos para permitir profiling. The profiling of all passengers envisaged by the current proposal might raise constitutional concerns in some member states.” Os perfis de todos os passageiros previstos pela actual proposta poderia suscitar preocupações constitucional em alguns Estados-Membros. "

The Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford said: “Where is this going to stop? Os Liberais Democratas MEP Sarah Ludford disse: "Onde está esse vai parar? There’s no mature discussion of risk. Não há um debate maduro de risco. As soon as you question something like this, you’re soft on terrorism in the UK and in the EU.” Assim que você pergunta algo como isso, você está suave sobre o terrorismo no Reino Unido e na UE ".

Britain is pushing for a more comprehensive system based on the experience of a UK pilot scheme that has been running for the past three years. A Grã-Bretanha está empurrando para um sistema mais completo, baseado na experiência de um projecto-piloto no Reino Unido que tem sido publicados, nos últimos três anos. Officials say Operation Semaphore, monitoring flights from Pakistan and the Middle East, has been highly successful and has resulted in hundreds of arrests. Funcionários dizem Operação Semaphore, acompanhamento voos provenientes do Paquistão e do Médio Oriente, tem sido muito bem sucedido e resultou em centenas de detenções.

The scheme has seen one in every 2,200 passengers warranting further investigation, with a tenth of those “being of interest”. O sistema tem-se observado uma em cada 2200 passageiros justificando um exame mais aprofundado, com um décimo das pessoas "sendo de interesse". British officials say rapists, drug smugglers and child traffickers have been arrested and want the EU scheme to cover “all fugitives from crown court justice”. British funcionários dizer estupradores, traficantes de droga e filho traficantes foram presos e deseja que o regime da UE para cobrir "todos os fugitivos da coroa tribunal justiça".

But Ludford said: “If you ask the UK government how many terrorists have been picked up, I don’t think you get a very straight answer.” Mas Ludford disse: "Se você perguntar ao governo britânico quantos terroristas foram apanhados, não acho que você receber uma resposta muito simples."

EU officials have asked the Home Office minister Meg Hillier for information about the arrests of suspected terrorists. Funcionários da UE tenham solicitado o Home Office ministro Meg Hillier para obter informações sobre as detenções de suspeitos de terrorismo.

By Por AMY HARMON AMY HARMON

Victoria Grove wanted to find out if she was destined to develop the form of Victoria Grove quis saber se ela estava destinada a desenvolver a forma de emphysema Enfisema that ran in her family, but she did not want to ask her doctor for the DNA test that would tell her. Que decorreu em sua família, mas ela não queria perguntar ao seu médico para o DNA teste que iria lhe dizer.

She worried that she might not be able to get Ela preocupado que ela pode não ser capaz de obter health insurance Seguro saúde , or even a job, if a genetic predisposition showed up in her medical records, especially since treatment for the condition, , Ou até mesmo um emprego, se uma predisposição genética mostrou-se em seu prontuário, especialmente desde que o tratamento para a doença, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency Alfa-1 antitripsina deficiência , could cost over $100,000 a year. , Pode custar mais de US $ 100.000 por ano. Instead, Ms. Grove sought out a service that sent a test kit to her home and returned the results directly to her. Em vez disso, a Sra. Grove procurado fora de um serviço que enviou um kit teste para sua casa e retornou os resultados diretamente para ela.

Nor did she tell her doctor when the test revealed that she was virtually certain to get it. Nem ela lhe dizer médico quando o teste revelou que ela estava praticamente certo para obtê-lo. Knowing that she could sustain permanent lung damage without immediate treatment for her bouts of Sabendo que podia sustentar permanente danos nos pulmões sem tratamento imediato para a sua bouts de pneumonia Pneumonia , she made sure to visit her clinic at the first sign of infection. , Que ela fez deixe de visitar o seu posto ao primeiro sinal de infecção.

But then came the day when the nurse who listened to her lungs decided she just had a cold. Mas então veio o dia em que a enfermeira que escutou sua pulmões decidiu que ela só teve um resfriado. Ms. Grove begged for a chest Ms. Grove implorou por um peito X-ray . The nurse did not think it was necessary. A enfermeira não acho que era necessário.

“It was just an ongoing battle with myself,” recalled Ms. Grove, of Woodbury, Minn. “Should I tell them now or wait till I’m sicker?” "Foi apenas uma batalha em curso com a mim", recordou Ms. Grove, de Woodbury, Minn. "Devo dizer-lhes agora ou esperar até eu doentes?"

The first, much-anticipated benefits of personalized medicine are being lost or diluted for many Americans who are too afraid that genetic information may be used against them to take advantage of its growing availability. O primeiro, muito antecipou-benefícios da medicina personalizada estão sendo perdidos ou diluído para muitos americanos, que são muito medo que as informações genéticas possam ser utilizadas contra eles a fim de aproveitar a sua crescente disponibilidade.

In some cases, doctors say, patients who could make more informed health care decisions if they learned whether they had inherited an elevated risk of diseases like breast and Em alguns casos, dizem médicos, pacientes que poderiam tornar mais informados saúde decisões se eles aprenderam se eles tinham herdado um risco elevado de doenças como a mama e colon cancer Cólon refuse to do so because of the potentially dire economic consequences. Recusar-se a fazê-lo por causa das consequências económicas potencialmente dire.

Others enter a kind of genetic underground, spending hundreds or thousands of dollars of their own money for DNA tests that an insurer would otherwise cover, so as to avoid scrutiny. Outros entra numa espécie de genética subterrânea, gastar centenas ou milhares de dólares de seu próprio dinheiro para DNA testes que uma seguradora, de outra forma, abrange, de modo a evitar escrutínio. Those who do find out they are likely or certain to develop a particular genetic condition often beg doctors not to mention it in their records. Aqueles que fazem descobrir que é provável ou certo para desenvolver uma determinada condição genética frequentemente mendigar médicos para não falar que, em seus registros.

Some, like Ms. Grove, try to manage their own care without confiding in medical professionals. Algumas, como a Sra. Grove, tentar gerir os seus próprios cuidados sem confidências em profissionais médicos. And even doctors who recommend DNA testing to their patients warn them that they could face genetic discrimination from employers or insurers. E mesmo médicos que recomendam teste de DNA para seus pacientes eles advertem que eles poderiam enfrentar discriminação genética de empregadores ou seguradoras.

Such discrimination appears to be rare; even proponents of federal legislation that would outlaw it can cite few examples of it. Essa discriminação parece ser rara, mesmo defensores da legislação federal que proíbe que pode citar alguns exemplos do mesmo. But thousands of people accustomed to a health insurance system in which known risks carry financial penalties are drawing their own conclusions about how a genetic predisposition to disease is likely to be regarded. Mas milhares de pessoas habituadas a um sistema de seguro de doença em que os riscos conhecidos transportar sanções financeiras estão tirando as suas próprias conclusões sobre a forma como uma predisposição genética para a doença é susceptível de ser considerado.

As a result, the ability to more effectively prevent and treat genetic disease is faltering even as the means to identify risks people are born with are improving. Como resultado, a capacidade de prevenir e tratar de forma mais eficaz doença genética é ainda titubeante como os meios de identificar os riscos são as pessoas nascidas com estão a melhorar.

“It’s pretty clear that the public is afraid of taking advantage of genetic testing,” said Dr. Francis S. Collins, director of the National Human Genome Research Institute at the "É bastante claro que a população tem medo de tirar vantagem dos testes genéticos", disse o Dr. S. Francis Collins, diretor do National Human Genome Research Institute, o National Institutes of Health National Institutes of Health . “If that continues, the future of medicine that we would all like to see happen stands the chance of being dead on arrival.” "Se isso continuar, o futuro da medicina que todos gostaríamos de ver acontecer stands a chance de serem mortos à chegada".

Caught in a Bind Capturados em um Bind

For Ms. Grove, 59, keeping her genetic condition secret finally became impossible. Para Ms. Grove, 59, mantendo a sua condição genética secretos finalmente se tornou impossível. When her symptoms worsened she was told to come back to the clinic before Quando lhe foi dito que ela piorou sintomas de voltar ao posto antes antibiotics Antibióticos would be prescribed. Estaria prescrito. But there had been a snowstorm that day, and she could not summon the strength to drive. Mas há neve que havia sido um dia, e ela não pôde reunir a força necessária para conduzir.

“I have alpha-1,” she remembers sobbing into the phone. "Tenho alfa-1", ela lembra sobbing no telefone. “I need this antibiotic!” "Eu preciso de este antibiótico!"

The clinic called in the prescription. A clínica chamado da prescrição.

Ms. Grove, who does freelance accounting from home and has health insurance through her husband’s employer, allowed herself to be identified here because she said she felt an obligation to others — including some in her own family — to draw attention to the bind she sees herself in. Ms. Grove, quem faz freelance contabilidade de casa e tem seguro saúde através de seu marido do empregador, permitiu-se a ser identificado aqui, porque ela disse que sentia uma obrigação para os outros - inclusive alguns em sua própria família - para chamar a atenção para o bind Vê-se Pol.

“Something needs to be done so that you cannot be discriminated against when you know about these things,” she said. "Algo precisa ser feito para que você não pode ser discriminado quando você sabe sobre essas coisas", disse ela. “Otherwise you are sicker, your life is shorter and you’re not doing what you need to protect yourself.” "Caso você esteja doentes, a sua vida é mais curto e você não está fazendo o que você precisa para se proteger."

Employers say discrimination is already prohibited in the workplace by the Americans with Disabilities Act and existing laws governing privacy of medical records. Empregadores dizer discriminação já é proibido nos locais de trabalho pelos Americanos com Deficiência Lei e as leis existentes que regem privacidade dos registros médicos. But employee rights advocates say nothing in those laws explicitly prevents employers hard-pressed to pay for mounting health care costs from trying to screen out employees they know are more likely to get sick. Mas empregado direitos defensores dizem nada nessas leis explicitamente impede empregadores duramente pressionado para pagar os custos da montagem da saúde tentando tela out funcionários que sabem têm mais probabilidades de ficarem doentes.

Courts have yet to rule on the subject. Tribunais terão ainda de se pronunciar sobre o assunto. When the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission sued the Quando a Comissão da Igualdade de Oportunidades de Emprego do demandado Burlington Northern Santa Fe Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway for secretly testing the blood of employees who had filed compensation claims for carpal-tunnel syndrome in an effort to discover a genetic cause for the symptoms, the case was settled out of court in 2002. Ferroviária secretamente para testar o sangue dos empregados que tinham apresentado pedidos de indemnização de síndrome do túnel do carpo-num esforço para descobrir uma causa genética para a sintomatologia, o caso foi resolvido fora do tribunal, em 2002.

And in 2005 when Eddy Curry, then the center for the Chicago Bulls, refused a genetic test to learn if he was predisposed to a heart ailment, the team traded him to the New York Knicks. E em 2005, quando Eddy Curry e, em seguida, o centro de Chicago Touros, recusou um teste genético para saber se ele estava disposto a um coração mal, a equipe dele negociadas para o New York Knicks.

Insurers say they do not ask prospective customers about genetic test results, or require testing. Seguradoras dizem que não perguntar clientes potenciais sobre os resultados dos ensaios genéticos, ou exigir testes. “It’s an anecdotal fear,” said Mohit M. Ghose, a spokesman for America’s Health Insurance Plans, whose members provide benefits for 200 million Americans. "É um anedóticos medo", disse Mohit M. Ghose, um porta-voz da America's Health Insurance Plans, cujos membros proporcionar benefícios para 200 milhões de americanos. “Our industry is not interested in any way, shape or form in discriminating based on a genetic marker.” "A nossa indústria não está interessado em qualquer maneira, forma ou no formulário de discriminação baseada em um marcador genético".

Still, a recent study by the Ainda assim, um estudo recente do Georgetown University Georgetown University Health Policy Institute found otherwise. Health Policy Institute em contrário. In 7 of 92 underwriting decisions, insurance providers evaluating hypothetical applicants said they would deny coverage, charge more for premiums or exclude certain conditions from coverage based on genetic test results. Em 7 de 92 decisões tomada firme, seguro prestadores avaliando hipotéticos candidatos disseram que negar cobertura, cobrar mais de prémios ou excluir certas condições de cobertura baseada em resultados dos testes genéticos.

The Medical Cost O médico custo

Regardless of whether discrimination actually occurs, many health care professionals say the pervasive Independentemente de discriminação realmente acontece, muitos profissionais de saúde dizem que a invasora anxiety Ansiedade over it demands legislative action. Sobre ele exige uma acção legislativa. Geneticists complain that discrimination fears prevent them from recruiting research participants, delaying cures and treatments for disease. Geneticistas queixam de discriminação teme que as impedem de contratar investigação participantes, atrasando curas e tratamentos para a doença. At Pelo Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, the same concern is a leading reason people cancel appointments for tests that detect Em Nova York, a mesma preocupação é um dos principais motivos pessoas cancelar nomeações para os ensaios que detectam cancer Câncer risk. Risco.

“We are dealing with potential lifesaving interventions,” said Dr. Kenneth Offit, chief of the center’s clinical "Estamos a lidar com um potencial salvamento intervenções", disse o Dr. Kenneth Offit, chefe do centro da clínica genetics Genética service. Serviço. “It’sa tragedy that people are being scared off by this.” "É uma tragédia que as pessoas estão a ser desligado por este medo."

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, which passed the House of Representatives by a wide margin last year, would prohibit insurers from using genetic information to deny benefits or raise premiums for both group and individual policies. A Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, que passou pela Câmara dos Representantes por uma ampla margem, no ano passado, que proíbe a utilização de informações genéticas seguradoras para negar benefícios ou levantar prémios para ambos os grupos e políticas individuais. (It is already illegal to exclude individuals from a group plan because of their genetic profile.) The bill would also bar employers from collecting genetic information or using it to make decisions about hiring, firing or compensation. (Já é ilegal para excluir indivíduos de um grupo plano devido ao seu perfil genético.) A lei também bar empregadores de recolherem informação genética ou utilizá-lo para tomar decisões sobre contratação, demissão ou compensação. But it has yet to reach the Senate floor. Mas ela ainda tem que chegar ao Senado chão.

Meanwhile, a $300 genetic test for Entretanto, um teste genético para US $ 300 prostate cancer Cancro da próstata risk announced last month immediately drew callers to a public radio station in Washington that was discussing the test, voicing fears of insurance discrimination. Risco anunciado no mês passado imediatamente chamou chamadores a uma estação de rádio pública em Washington que estava discutindo o teste, manifestam temores de seguro discriminação. Dr. Karim Kader, who made the test possible with his discovery that men who carry certain DNA variants are four to five times likelier to develop prostate cancer, assured one caller that the test would be “very private.” Dr. Karim Kader, que fez o teste possível com sua descoberta que os homens que exercem certas DNA variantes são quatro a cinco vezes likelier de desenvolver cancro da próstata, garantiu um chamador que o teste seria "muito privadas".

For some, that is not good enough. Para alguns, que não é suficientemente bom.

Linda Vahdat, director of the Linda Vahdat, diretor do breast cancer O cancro da mama research program at Programa de investigação em NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center Nova Iorque-Presbiteriana Hospital / Weill Cornell Medical Center , estimates that 20 percent of her patients choose to pay for the DNA test for inherited breast cancer risk with cash, to avoid submitting insurance claims. , Estima que 20 por cento dos seus pacientes optar por pagar para o teste de DNA herdado risco com cancro da mama em dinheiro, para evitar a apresentação de seguros reivindicações.

And last year, hundreds of customers paid the start-up company DNA Direct for tests that range in cost from $175 to $3,456 to ensure that no third party, not even a doctor, had access to their results. E no ano passado, centenas de clientes pagaram o start-up empresa DNA direto para testes que vão no custo de US $ 175 a US $ 3456 para garantir que qualquer terceiro, nem mesmo um médico, tiveram acesso aos seus resultados. Mary, a freelance camera assistant in Brooklyn, for instance, sent a swab of her cheek cells to DNA Direct to find out if her extreme fatigue was caused by Mary, uma câmara freelance assistente no Brooklyn, por exemplo, enviou uma mecha de sua bochecha células de DNA direto para descobrir se ela foi causada por fadiga extrema hemochromatosis Hemocromatose , a genetic condition in which the body retains too much iron. , Uma condição genética na qual o organismo retém demasiado ferro.

“I would rather not lay out the $200 myself,” said Mary, who requested that her last name be withheld for the same reason she paid for her own test. "Eu preferia não lay out $ 200 a mim", disse Maria, que pediu que seu sobrenome ser retidos pela mesma razão que ela paga para o seu próprio teste. “But it seemed safer.” "Mas ele parecia seguro".

Treatment for hemochromatosis typically involves removing a unit of blood twice-weekly by Tratamento para hemocromatose tipicamente envolve remover uma unidade de sangue duas vezes por semana por phlebotomy Phlebotomy . But that would mean disclosing the condition to a doctor, so Mary is planning on becoming a frequent blood donor. Mas isso significaria divulgar a condição de um médico, por isso Mary está pensando em se tornar um doador de sangue freqüentes.

Kathy, a financial analyst in Houston who would like to know if she, like her two sisters, has a genetic predisposition to breast cancer, said she was not going to take even an anonymous test. Kathy, um analista financeiro, em Houston, que gostaria de saber se ela, assim como suas duas irmãs, tem uma predisposição genética para o cancro da mama, disseram que ela não estava indo para ter mesmo um teste anônimo. “Then,” she said, “I’m just in a position of having to lie.” "Então", disse ela, "estou apenas em uma posição de ter que mentir".

The culture of secrecy around genetic information is stronger in the United States, some experts say, than in countries where people are guaranteed health care. A cultura do secretismo em torno de informação genética é mais forte nos Estados Unidos, alguns especialistas dizem, que em países onde as pessoas estão garantidos os cuidados de saúde. Among Americans at risk for Entre os americanos em risco de Huntington’s disease Doença de Huntington , an incurable brain disorder, only 5 percent take the DNA test to determine if they will develop it, compared with 20 percent of Canadians in the same position, according to Michael R. Hayden, a professor of human genetics at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. , Uma enfermidade incurável cérebro, apenas 5 por cento assumir o teste DNA para determinar se eles irão desenvolvê-la, em comparação com 20 por cento dos canadenses na mesma posição, de acordo com Michael R. Hayden, professor de genética humana da Universidade de British Columbia Em Vancouver.

Here, doctors often feel obligated to inform patients of the potential financial downside. Aqui, os médicos muitas vezes se sentem obrigados a informar os pacientes do potencial financeiro negativo.

“I always warn them,” said Dr. Stephen Moll, director of the Thrombophilia Program at the "Eu sempre adverti-los", disse o Dr. Stephen Moll, diretor do Programa no Trombofilia University of North Carolina University of North Carolina , who uses a genetic test to determine the best treatment for patients with blood clots. , Que utiliza um teste genético para determinar o melhor tratamento para doentes com coágulos sanguíneos. “Especially if they are self-employed, I don’t want it to be a surprise if their health insurance premium goes up.” "Especialmente se forem trabalhadores por conta própria, não gostaria que fosse uma surpresa, se a sua saúde prémio de seguro sobe."

Unknown Risks Desconhecido Riscos

After receiving a similar warning from her doctor, Katherine Anderson’s parents did not allow her to be tested for Factor V Leiden, a genetic condition she might have inherited from her father that increases the risk of blood clots. Após receber um alerta semelhante de seu médico, Katherine Anderson's pais não permitiam a ela para ser testado para o factor V Leiden, uma condição genética que ela pode ter herdado de seu pai que aumenta o risco de coágulos sanguíneos.

But last year, with nothing in Ms. Anderson’s record to indicate reason for concern, a gynecologist prescribed a Mas no ano passado, com nada em Ms. Anderson's record para indicar motivos para preocupação, uma prescrito um gynecologist birth control Nascimento controle pill to regulate her uneven periods. Pílula para regulamentar a sua desigual períodos. Six weeks later, Ms. Anderson, then 16, developed a clot that stretched from her knee to her abdomen. Seis semanas mais tarde, a Sra. Anderson e, em seguida, 16, desenvolveu um coágulo que estendia do seu joelho para o seu abdômen. The pill, combined with the gene she had indeed inherited, had increased her clotting risk by 30-fold. A pílula, combinado com o gene que tinha efectivamente herdadas, tinha aumentado a sua coagulação risco até 30 vezes.

Now largely recovered, her primary concern is whether she will be viewed as a health insurance liability for the future. Agora largamente recuperado, a sua principal preocupação é a de saber se ela será considerada como um seguro saúde responsabilidade para o futuro.

“I don’t want to have to work for a big business just to get insurance,” she said. "Eu não quero ter de trabalhar para uma grande empresa apenas para receber seguro", disse ela. “This could be determining what I can do for my whole life.” "Isso poderia ser determinante o que eu posso fazer por toda a minha vida."

For Judith Berman Carlisle, the price of privacy was forgoing the DNA test that would have convinced her not to have surgery. Para Judith Berman Carlisle, o preço da privacidade foi perdido o DNA teste convencido de que ela não teria submetido a uma cirurgia. Ms. Carlisle, 48, who was setting up her own therapy practice, was afraid testing positive for the high-risk breast and Ms. Carlisle, 48, que foi a criação de sua própria prática terapêutica, tinha medo testes positivos para o alto risco e mama ovarian cancer De cancro do ovário gene that runs in her family would prevent her from buying health insurance. Gene que funciona em sua família iria impedir de comprar o seu seguro saúde.

But her sister had developed ovarian cancer the year before, an aunt had died of it, and Ms. Carlisle was desperate not to get it herself. Mas a sua irmã tinha desenvolveu cancro do ovário do ano anterior, uma tia tinha morrido da mesma, e Ms. Carlisle estava desesperado não pode obtê-lo sozinha. Her doctor agreed to remove her ovaries based on her family history — the way such decisions were commonly made before a genetic test was available.

Ms. Carlisle was convinced the surgery would be less damning than proof that she carried a defective BRCA1 gene, which also confers a very high chance of developing breast cancer.

“There’sa big difference between someone saying, ‘I have a strong family history,’ ” Ms. Carlisle said, “and saying, ‘I only have a 13 percent chance of not getting breast cancer during the time you’re insuring me.’ ” “There’sa big difference between someone saying, ‘I have a strong family history,’ ” Ms. Carlisle said, “and saying, ‘I only have a 13 percent chance of not getting breast cancer during the time you’re insuring me .’ ”

Last fall, after the surgery to remove her ovaries, she began to consider a double mastectomy to remove any chance of breast cancer, the disease her grandmother and another aunt had died of. Having secured health insurance, she took the test for the BRCA1 mutation. It came back negative.

“The first thing they said to me,” Ms. Carlisle said, “is that I have no higher risk than anyone on the street.”

Daily Mail

We seem to be busily building the world’s first popular police state.

Opinion polls show high levels of support for identity cards, surveillance cameras, detention without trial - and now a national DNA database covering every individual, including those who have never had any dealings with the police.

Given the growing fear of crime, such attitudes are not surprising. Events in the past week have encouraged them further. Both Suffolk serial killer Steve Wright and Mark Dixie, murderer of Sally Anne Bowman, were caught largely through DNA samples. Police officers and victims’ relatives want the change. The case seems open and shut.

Britain already has the world’s largest DNA database. Anyone arrested in England and Wales is compelled to submit to a DNA swab and the record is kept whether he is convicted or not. In Scotland this rule is restricted to violent and sex offenders, and then for only three years unless an extension is applied for.

But the operation of the scheme south of the Border has led to the beginning of serious doubts. As so often with measures aimed at greater security, people are far less enthusiastic when they are affected personally.

Many entirely innocent citizens have been disturbed by the way they or their children have been registered - for life - as potential criminals. There have also been suggestions that police have abused their arrest powers to collect DNA samples.

The European Human Rights Court has been asked to rule next week on the case of two men from Sheffield who were arrested but not charged, and want their DNA records expunged.

But just because this annoying liberal court has poked its nose into our affairs, we should not necessarily dismiss these concerns.

Some types of DNA evidence have been questioned, particularly after the recent Omagh bombing trial.

Meanwhile, professional criminals are increasingly expert at destroying their own DNA traces or polluting crime scenes with false DNA trails.

It is not the magic bullet it first appeared to be.

There is another point. As the criminal justice system increasingly fails to deal with the low-level disorder that worries most people, it trumpets its rare successes in headline-making cases, such as those involving Wright and Dixie.

Yet it can be argued that old-fashioned close-to-the-ground police work might have caught these two just as quickly, if not sooner.

And - while it is essential that justice is done on such killers - the main job of the police is to prevent crime in the first place, and no DNA database can do that half as effectively as patrolling constables on foot.

Home Office Minister Tony McNulty is right to be cautious before treating the entire population as suspects.

He and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith should take the same view of equally worrying plans for ID cards, and for intrusive surveillance on travellers to Europe.

We are not all guilty, and we will lose much more than we gain if we submit ourselves to Big Brother.

Iain Dale

Balancing the responsibilities of the State against the rights of the individual is one ofthe most difficult things for politicians to get right. The tendency is to be all in favour of civil liberties while in opposition but to revert to authoritarian type when in government. That’s certainly happened with this Labour government. And in times of threats to national security, politicians need to be quite courageous to resist all the demands to impose authoritarian measures on the populace.

The argument surrounding DNA evidence is a perfect example of the dilemmas faced. At the moment only someone interviewed by Police has their DNA taken. If they are charged it is kept on their records, but not removed if they fail to be convicted. Some argue that if the government had everyone’s DNA on record it would make the Police’s life far easier and crimes would be solved much more quickly. It’sa similar argument to ID cards.

This week European judges will consider the case of two people who were charged with a crime but never convicted who want their DNA wiped off the national database. This case has far reaching implications and could lead to more than 500,000 other people’s DNA being wiped. This case has far reaching implications and could lead to more than 500000 other people’s DNA being wiped.

This is a really difficult one for people like me who believe that the rights of the individual must be protected from the pervasive influence of the State. In theory I would support the right of the innocent individual to have their records wiped if they had been found not guilty of a crime, or not even charged. However, the real world does not operate in this way. The individual also has the right to be protected from harm by others, and it is the role of the State to introduce laws which enable that to happen.

As I understand it the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives believe that only those convicted of a crime should be on the DNA database. It’sa consistent position and easy to argue. The fact that 100,000 innocent children are on it and should never have been, 26,000 police-collected samples have been left off it and half a million entries have been misrecorded lend weight to the view that the government is incapable of managing such sensitive data. The fact that 100000 innocent children are on it and should never have been, 26000 police-collected samples have been left off it and half a million entries have been misrecorded lend weight to the view that the government is incapable of managing such sensitive data.

And yet, and yet. What worries me is that sex attackers and murderers are more difficult to find without full access to DNA records. So I wonder if a messy compromise isn’t something we should be considering. My only exceptions to the “No DNA record unless charged” rule would be for people interviewed on suspicion of rape or murder. I accept that it would mean some innocent people being added to the DNA register, but it would undoubtedly reduce the time it takes the Police to solve these two heinous crimes, and therefore prevent others from taking place. Of course one can take this further and use the same argument in favour of everyone having their DNA taken, as it would then lead to other crimes being solved more quickly. I realise that. But I’m afraid that murder and rape are crimes which merit a different and stronger approach.

UPDATE: Martin corrects me in the comments: “Actually Iain you’re wrong to say:”If they are charged it is kept on their records, but not removed if they fail to be convicted.”People who are arrested but not charged remain on the DNA database.”Before 2001, the police could take DNA samples during investigations but had to destroy the samples and the records derived from them on the Database if the people concerned were acquitted or charges were not proceeded with.The law was changed in 2001 to remove this requirement, and changed again in 2004 so that DNA samples could be taken from anyone arrested for a recordable offence and detained in a police station.”http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research/using-science/dna-database/So the dataabse is already being populated with the DNA of people who have never been charged just in case they later go on to commit a crime. UPDATE: Martin corrects me in the comments: “Actually Iain you’re wrong to say:”If they are charged it is kept on their records, but not removed if they fail to be convicted.”People who are arrested but not charged remain on the DNA database.”Before 2001, the police could take DNA samples during investigations but had to destroy the samples and the records derived from them on the Database if the people concerned were acquitted or charges were not proceeded with.The law was changed in 2001 to remove this requirement, and changed again in 2004 so that DNA samples could be taken from anyone arrested for a recordable offence and detained in a police station.”http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research/using -science/dna-database/So the dataabse is already being populated with the DNA of people who have never been charged just in case they later go on to commit a crime. Either they should be removed or everyone should be added.

Sean O’Neill, David Brown and Richard Ford

European judges could strip the profiles of more than half a million people from the national DNA database on privacy grounds — undermining its growing value to police as an investigative tool.

As two sex killers caught by the database were jailed for life yesterday and a senior detective joined calls for a universal register, the European Court of Human Rights will hear a case that could mean 560,000 DNA samples being destroyed. As two sex killers caught by the database were jailed for life yesterday and a senior detective joined calls for a universal register, the European Court of Human Rights will hear a case that could mean 560000 DNA samples being destroyed. Two people charged with offences but never convicted will ask the court next week to remove their records from the database. If they succeed, 13 per cent of the 4.3 million profiles collected since 1995 would have to be destroyed.

The category of DNA profiles facing destruction has yielded vital clues in criminal cases. Official figures seen by The Times indicate that the DNA of 8,500 people never previously charged or convicted has been matched with DNA taken from crime scenes. Official figures seen by The Times indicate that the DNA of 8500 people never previously charged or convicted has been matched with DNA taken from crime scenes. The cases have involved about 14,000 offences including 114 murders, 55 attempted murders and 116 rapes. The cases have involved about 14000 offences including 114 murders, 55 attempted murders and 116 rapes. Europe will rule on the legality of the database as demands grow for the entire British population to be sampled after its crucial role in catching Steve Wright, the Suffolk Strangler, and Mark Dixie, the killer of Sally Anne Bowman.

Detective Superintendent Stuart Cundy, who led the investigation into Miss Bowman’s murder, said that a universal database would have caught Dixie within 24 hours of the killing. Instead he remained at large for nine months until police took a DNA swab from him after a pub fight. Dixie, 35, was jailed for life at the Old Bailey only hours after Wright, 49, was given a whole-life sentence for the murders of five Ipswich prostitutes.

Wright had been arrested after a DNA sample from one of his victim’s bodies matched the profile loaded on the database after his arrest for a minor theft.

Mr Cundy said: “I am all for a national DNA register, with all the appropriate safeguards. If there had been one at the time of Sally Anne’s murder we would have known who it was that day. It could have protected everybody else out there. For nine months between Sally Anne’s murder and the arrest one of our biggest fears and was that this man could attack again. A national DNA register could solve that.”

Richard Ottaway, Miss Bowman’s local Tory MP, said: “A universal DNA database is necessary to solve these crimes.”

The Home Office has published proposals for extending the existing database by taking samples from people detained for minor, or non-recordable offences, such as not wearing a seatbelt.

Ministers are understood to be awaiting the outcome of the European court case before deciding whether to proceed with the expansion plans.

Human rights lawyers will argue in Strasbourg that a juvenile acquitted of attempted robbery and Michael Marper, who faced charges of harassment that were later dropped, should have their profiles removed from the database. South Yorkshire police, which arrested both, has refused to destroy their records.

Peter Mahy, their solicitor, said: “This is the most important case on the human rights implication of retaining biometric data.”

He said his clients were concerned about the uses to which the samples might be put and the lack of independent oversight of the national database.

Alexandra Frean

All 14-year-old children in England will have their personal details and exam results placed on an electronic database for life under a plan to be announced tomorrow.

Colleges and prospective employers will be able to access students’ records online to check on their qualifications. Under the terms of the scheme all children will keep their individual number throughout their adult lives, The Times has learnt. The database will include details of exclusions and expulsions.

Officials said last night that the introduction of the unique learner number (ULN)was not a step towards a national identity card. But it will be seen as the latest step in the Government’s broader efforts to computerise personal records.

Last night teachers’ leaders, parents’ organisations, opposition MPs and human rights campaigners questioned whether this Big Brother approach was necessary and said that it could compromise the personal security of millions of teenagers.

The new database — which will store a “tamper-proof CV” — will be known as MIAP (managing Information Across Partners). To be registered on the new database every 14-year-old will be issued with a unique learner number. Unlike the current unique pupil number now given to children in school but destroyed when they leave, the ULN will be used by government agencies to track individuals until they retire. Ultimately, it will create a numbered database for every citizen aged 14-plus in the UK.

The MIAP is part of a push for more government departments to share information on ordinary citizens with each other. The new Education and Skills Bill to raise the education leaving age from 16 to 18, for example, contains sweeping powers for local authorities to access information from schools, health agencies and social services to track young people between the ages of 16 and 18.

Margaret Morrisey, of the National Association of Parent Teacher Associations, said that plans for MIAP, which will be compulsory for all 14-year-olds throughout the UK, would fill parents with horror.

“I suspect there will not be more than two parents in the land who would have faith in the Government that this information will be secure,” she said.

A spokeswoman for MIAP, which will come under the auspices of the Learning and Skills Council, said that the database had the support of more than 40 “stakeholder organisations” from across the education sector.

Original plans for MIAP drawn up by the Government in 2003 suggested that the database could be linked to identity cards, raising the prospect that once pupils were in the system they might be forced into accepting an ID card.

The spokeswoman said that this plan had been shelved for the time being. “At the moment there are no plans for the Unique Learner Number to be used by the ID Card system,” she said. She added that the purpose of the system was to support the education, training and careers guidance of the learner, “not security, taxation or access to government services”.

The database would enable students to build a lifelong record of their educational participation and achievements that can be accessed through the internet. The system would be password protected and would have two points of entry. Students could look up their full records and personal details by using one password. They could then give another password to employers to give them access to a restricted view of the information online.

John Dunford, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “Given the track record of government IT disasters and the possibility that all these children’s records will end up in Iowa, this is a worry.” While accepting that it would be helpful to keep centralised records of pupil achievement, he questioned the need to put it online. John Dunford, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “Given the track record of government IT disasters and the possibility that all these children’s records will end up in Iowa, this is a worry.” While accepting that it would be helpful to keep centralised records of pupil achievement, he questioned the need to put it online.

Michael Gove, the Shadow Schools Secretary, said: “The government has a terrible track record in managing complex IT programmes. Recent events have shown that sensitive personal data is not safe in ministers’ hands. There must be profound worries not just in terms of civil liberties, but also in terms of the security of young people with a project like this”.

He added that it was a “classic ministerial muddle” to press head with the new database while awaiting the outcome of a security review into a separate planned database, known as ContactPoint, containing personal details of all 11 million children in England, including names, addresses, schools, GPs and, where applicable, social worker. He added that it was a “classic ministerial muddle” to press head with the new database while awaiting the outcome of a security review into a separate planned database, known as ContactPoint, containing personal details of all 11 million children in England, including names, addresses, schools, GPs and, where applicable, social worker. The ContactPoint review was ordered last year after HM Revenue and Customs lost two computer discs containing the banking and personal details of 25 million people. This was followed by the disappearance in Iowa of three million UK learner driver details, and the theft of a laptop containing personal details of 600,000 people who considered a career in the forces. This was followed by the disappearance in Iowa of three million UK learner driver details, and the theft of a laptop containing personal details of 600000 people who considered a career in the forces.

However, Richard Thomas, the Information Commissioner, is said to be satisfied with the security arrangements made for the new database, which is expected to go online next September.

More than 100,000 people in Kent have been added to the DNA database in the last five years it has been revealed. According to figures released under the Freedom of Information Act, 103,830 samples were taken and more than a quarter were from people under 18. More than 100000 people in Kent have been added to the DNA database in the last five years it has been revealed. According to figures released under the Freedom of Information Act, 103830 samples were taken and more than a quarter were from people under 18.

All DNA collected is stored permanently on the national database.

Det Supt Colin Croucher, of Kent Police, said the swab samples were regularly used in cases of burglary and vehicle crime.

“And of course it was very significant in the case of the M25 rapist a few years back,” he added.

Mr Croucher said the force was keen to ensure that it had “the best opportunity to be able to use DNA appropriately and to have DNA samples on record.

“So where the law’s allowed us to take those samples, we’ve taken them,” he said.

DNA collected ranges from people who voluntarily give police a swab in order to eliminate themselves from investigations, to convicted rapists and murderers.

Since 2004, the data of everyone arrested for a recordable offence in England and Wales - all but the most minor offences - has remained on the system regardless of their age, the seriousness of their alleged offence, and whether or not they were prosecuted.

Opponents are worried about the number of innocent people whose data is still on file even though they have not been charged with a crime

Phil Booth, of the NO2ID campaign against identity cards, said: “This policy of putting on DNA samples and DNA profiles that shouldn’t necessarily be there is undermining the matching process itself.

“There’s the danger that someone may be fingered incorrectly, and it’s already beginning to happen.”

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/7238582.stm

Prints might just be needed for ’special’ groups

By Por John Lettice

A key component of the UK ID card scheme, the central database of fingerprints, may be abandoned, according to a leaked Home Office document obtained by the Observer . The document doesn’t suggest entirely scrapping fingerprints, but instead suggests that their value should be assessed for each group of the population enrolled.

So how does that work? Well, for the ID scheme as originally planned, it clearly doesn’t. From David Blunkett onwards Home Office ministers have presented biometrics as the system’s USP, the one single factor that makes it entirely certain (in their view) that you are who you say you are. And, they have claimed, the ability to check those biometrics against a central register would give us the ‘gold standard’ of identity. But if you don’t necessarily collect everybody’s fingerprints, then you don’t have a complete national biometric register, so you might as well save yourself a pile of money, chuck away any notion of online biometric checks as a matter of routine, and forget any ideas you still had about a national biometric register. But if you don’t necessarily collect everybody’s fingerprints, then you don’t have a complete national biometric register, so you might as well save yourself a pile of money, chuck away any notion of online biometric checks as a matter of routine , and forget any ideas you still had about a national biometric register.

Quite a few of the claimed ‘benefits’ of the ID scheme go out of the window if you do this. The police cannot trawl the register in order to match crime scene fingerprints, nor can they use their mobile fingerprint readers to identify you or to prove that you are who you say you are. Effectively, the ID card would be chip-backed picture ID, with the security of the chip only of value in circumstances where a reader was used.

Except, apparently, for some groups. Immigration Minister Liam Byrne recently reiterated his commitment to issuing the first biometric ID cards to foreign nationals from November of this year. Having this group carrying biometric ID cards makes sense to the government, in a racist sort of way, because it should already have biometrics for many of them via the biometric visa programme. But not all foreign nationals require a visa, so perhaps not all foreign nationals will turn out to require an ID card - at least initially.

But even if the Home Office were to abandon ID card fingerprints for everyone bar the foreigners it’s fingerprinting already, it would still ultimately be fingerprinting most of the rest of us, as the Identity & Passport Service (IPS) is currently scheduled to start collecting fingerprints at passport renewal from 2009. But even if the Home Office were to abandon ID card fingerprints for everyone bar the foreigners it’s fingerprinting already, it would still ultimately be fingerprinting most of the rest of us, as the Identity & Passport Service (IPS) is currently scheduled to start collecting fingerprints at passport renewal from 2009. The UK isn’ta Schengen signatory and therefore isn’t obliged, as the Schengen states are, to add fingerprints to passports, but has committed to do so.

Which presents us with a puzzle. The ID card has up to now been envisaged as, effectively, a small format passport - you collect the biometric data for the passport and squirt it onto the passport chip and the ID card chip, same thing, different shapes. But there’s always been a need, if the ID card is to be universal, to collect biometric data from that part of the population that doesn’t have a passport. And if you’re not going to do that, then the passport and the ID card start to become different beasts, with the passport the ID that’s more strongly tied to the individual, and the ID card being rather less so.

The picture is not wholly coherent, which is as one would expect from an organisation looking for savings and shortcuts in a desperate attempt to salvage something from the ID card disaster.

Meanwhile in separate leaks, the Home Office is considering beating young drivers with a stick to get them to sign up for ID cards. Well, sort of - see here. ®

Kurt Nimmo
Truth News