Innocent - but on a criminal database / Telegraph, 28 May 2007
http://digbig.com/4syxx
Philip Johnston
"A reader has written to tell what is becoming a familiar story. He was driving with his wife and child when their car was involved in a minor accident. He remonstrated with the driver of the other vehicle, one of two young men, whereupon he was punched in the face. ... So he was taken to the station, his fingerprints and DNA were taken, a statement obtained and he was told to await a decision from the Crown Prosecution Service. This duly arrived a few weeks later: there was no case to answer and no further action would be taken.
My correspondent asked the police to destroy the fingerprints and DNA sample since he did not see why he should be on a criminal database for the rest of his life. This matter is now being considered by the chief constable of his local police force, who has the discretion to remove these records "in exceptional circumstances"."