(Source: The Journal - Newcastle-upon-Tyne)
THE number of people whose details were added to the DNA database rose to its highest level in a single year, new figures revealed yesterday.
Samples placed on the National DNA Database went up by 1% in 2006- 07 to 722,464, according to the annual report.
The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA), which published the report, said more than 4.4 million people's DNA was stored on the database, making it the largest in the world per head of population.
Of those, 79.6% were from men, 41% from people aged 15 to 24 and 8% from children aged 14 and under.
The database has been the subject of criticism over its inclusion of DNA samples from children and those who were not convicted of any crime.
Opposition parties said it was evidence the Government was building a national DNA database by stealth. The Ethics Group said samples obtained during investigations should be destroyed at the end of an inquiry.
A spokesman for the Home Office said: "The report reflects the real and significant contribution the Agency has already made to improving policing effectiveness and the service it delivers to the public."
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