Crockart warns over DNA reliance

Edinburgh West MP Mike Crockart has urged against overestimating the potential of DNA technology to act as a "scientific knight in shining armour for serious crimes".

The former police officer, who served with the Lothian and Borders force for eight years, was speaking during a debate at Westminster on the use of DNA data in tackling crime.

Mr Crockart emphasised the need to "protect the right of the innocent to privacy" and expressed his concern at a system which had "blurred the line between guilt and innocence".

Home Secretary Theresa May recently outlined her intention to respond to a European Court of Human Rights ruling by moving the rules on DNA information in England and Wales closer to the Scottish model.

The English system has allowed for the DNA of anyone arrested to be held indefinitely, whereas in Scotland only the data of people convicted of criminal offences is retained.

Mr Crockart said: "The move towards the Scottish model for using DNA against crime in England and Wales is long overdue and I welcome it."

He also criticised the "unrestrained proliferation of CCTV across the country".