PLANS to keep the DNA samples of innocent people for up to 12 years – in defiance of a European Court judgment – will be forced through without a Commons vote.
The decision to deny MPs a say has been attacked by the Home Office's own advisers on the controversial DNA database as a "quick fix" that will backfire badly.
And the Liberal Democrats accused ministers of running scared of a likely Commons defeat, with scores of Labour backbenchers opposed to the new law.
Meanwhile, new figures have revealed that 16,653 profiles from Merseyside were added to the database in just seven months after the crushing ruling last December, with a further 3,713 from Cheshire.
Around 21% of people on the database have no criminal record – which suggests around 4,200 innocent people have been added since the judgment.
The ruling, by the European Court of Human Rights, condemned the "blanket" retention of the DNA profiles of anyone arrested – regardless of whether they are acquitted of any offence, or even charged.
Increasing numbers of people are protesting that they have been "blackmarked for life" – and have missed out on jobs – because of minor childhood misdemeanours.
But, despite the ruling, the Home Office announced new plans to allow DNA profiles from the innocent to be retained for six years for minor allegations and for 12 years for serious charges.
