Chris Mole (pictured) member for Ipswich, raised a question on 27 February with the PM about the DNA database. The issue was raised in the wake of the successful prosecution last month of Steven Wright for killing five women in Ipswich. In reply, Gordon Brown referred "the murder of these prostitutes." On reflection Gordon may have wished to re-phrase that. They were five young women who got involved in drugs and resorted to selling sex to fund their addiction. They paid the ultimate price for their risky lives when one of their clients turned into a vicious killer.
To label these murdered women as simply 'prostitutes' demeans them and insults their grieving families.
The question itself called for "a proportionate and effective database of DNA [to be] sustained, not just one that records people convicted for violent and sexual offences?" Gordon reeled off the impressive figures of 450 murders and 640 rapes solved by DNA profiling last year.
But there was a problem with the question. The DNA database does not include any profiles for thousands of known sex offenders - it only includes details of sex offenders after 2004. All those on the sex offender's register between the year it was established 1997 and 2004 are not captured. So had Steven Wright been on that list for a sexual offence he would not have been caught by DNA testing. The Government were going to address this loophole in 2005 but they ran out of Parliamentary time before the election. There are some provisions in the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill which would allow them to make the necesary change - but there is no indication yet they see this as a priority.
1 comment:
I'd agree entirely with your comments re: Brown's ill-considered description of the 5 unfortunate girls that were so savagely murdered by the sexual monster, Wright.
Not sure about retrospectively introducing a DNA register though, where does one begin & end, where's the line - all offenders or those convicted of certain/specific crimes?
While a DNA database may help solve former crimes it is unlikely to stop new crimes being committed. The focus of our efforts needs to be on promoting respect for women and deterring such appalling crimes as those committed by Wright.
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