Inspector Dave Lockyear
Information Access Manager
Information Management Services
Mr John Anderson
[email address]
[FOI #7434 email]
Direct line
Direct fax
020 7601 2279
020 7601 2088
Your ref:
Our ref:
1 April 2009
Dear Mr Anderson
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION REF: COL/09/55
I write in connection with your request for information dated 31 January 2009 in which you
seek access to the following information:
On the 4th of December 2008 the European Court of Human Rights has delivered at
a public hearing its Grand Chamber judgement in the case of S. and Marper v. the
United Kingdom (application nos.30562/04 and 30566/04).
The Court held unanimously that "there had been a violation of Article 8 (right to
respect for private and family life) of the European Convention on Human Rights"
with regards to the UK Government holding DNA and fingerprints on innocent people.
As the UK Government has lost its case and was found to be unlawfully holding DNA
and fingerprint details of innocent people I wish to know the following as of the 4th of
December 2008:
1. How many DNA and fingerprint samples of innocent people have deleted?
2. How many innocent people requested their DNA and fingerprint samples be deleted?
3. If no DNA and fingerprint samples have been deleted I wish to know the reasons
why, as the UK Government have been found to be in breach of innocent peoples
human rights and this would be considered a crime in itself.
4. As there is no right of appeal from a final decision made by the Grand Chamber
when will the City of London Police Service be routinely be deleting records of
innocent people?
Wood Street Police Station
PO Box 36427, 37 Wood Street, London EC2M 2NP
Tel 020 7601 2279
Textphone 020 7601 2906
www.cityoflondon.police.uk
Cont/ …
Since the ruling to which you refer was made, two individuals have requested that
their DNA and fingerprint records are deleted. Whilst this judgement has gone
against the Government, it does not have any impact on the current fingerprint and
DNA retention policy until the law is changed by Parliament. No DNA or fingerprint
records will therefore be destroyed until the law is changed.
Please accept my apologies for the delay in replying to your request. Should you have any
further questions, please contact me via e-mail, letter or telephone, quoting the reference
number above.
Yours sincerely
Inspector Dave Lockyear
Information Access Manager
Wood Street Police Station
PO Box 36427, 37 Wood Street, London EC2M 2NP
Tel 020 7601 2279
Textphone 020 7601 2906
www.cityoflondon.police.uk
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