UK Police Promise Not To Retain DNA Data, But Do Anyway 372
redalien writes "In 2008 I invited two policemen into my home and voluntarily gave them a DNA and fingerprint sample to help with a murder investigation, as they'd promised it would only be used for that investigation. I was never under any suspicion and could just as easily have said no. Almost a year after the investigation closed they have now confirmed that they've retained my samples and at my request have begun an investigation to see if there are sufficient 'exceptional circumstances' to remove them. I'm not the only one who was told samples would be removed, so if you've had such a promise from the police I recommend contacting their data protection registrar immediately."
Re:WAIVE NOTHING..EVER..EVER!! (Score:1, Funny)
> they usually start threatening warrants and other harassment.
Usually? Jesus Christ - how often are you in contact with the police?
Re:You believed them when the promised? (Score:0, Funny)
How does one balance an altruistic need to volunteer information to the police against the general "don't talk to the police" principle of avoiding self-incrimination?
I don't see the dilemma here. Altruism is the root of all evil. DON'T TALK TO THE POLICE.
Re:Not the first (Score:4, Funny)
Well, they just have an unauthorized copy of the DNA. That's not really theft. It's not like they comprehensively deprived him of his only copy of DNA.
Yeah, it's something akin to copyright violation.
I wonder if we should copyright our DNA and strictly control access to it via license?