HGC and the National DNA Database

The Human Genetics Commission (HGC) is a group of people appointed by the UK Government to give its advice on developments in human genetics. Its job is to look at the rights and wrongs of using knowledge about people’s DNA or genes, and genetic technologies, for certain purposes.

The National DNA Database is a collection of DNA records from everyone arrested by the police, as well as some people who volunteer to be on it (for example, to prove that a DNA sample found by police at a crime scene did not come from them). The main purpose of the database is to help the police identify suspects for unsolved crimes by finding matches between these DNA records and samples found at crime scenes. Over the last few years the database has grown rapidly – there are now more than 4 million records. However, this worries some people: for example, not everyone would agree that it is fair to store someone’s DNA data forever just because they were once picked up by the police for being drunk in public. The HGC thinks there should be more debate about this, both among the public and in Parliament, before important decisions about the database are taken.

The HGC has already encouraged this debate by bringing together two groups of citizens in Birmingham and Glasgow to discuss their feelings about the National DNA Database. Together they wrote a report that contained a number of suggestions about what should be done. Not surprisingly, it also showed that their opinions were strongly divided on a number of issues.

The HGC is now asking other people for their views on some of the difficult questions highlighted in the citizens’ report. It is doing this by asking for responses to 10 questions published on its website (www.hgc.gov.uk), but it would also like to hear any other comments that people have about the database and related issues. Early next year, the HGC will examine all the information it has received, as well as a lot of other relevant information, such as the outcomes of the Citizens’ Inquiry and the National DNA Database on Trial project. It will then write a report for the Government containing advice about what the arrangements for the National DNA Database should be in the future. This report should be published in early 2009.

The Human Genetics Commission is asking people their views on some of the issues surrounding the National DNA Database.   

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