Transcript Document

Governance and
ethical oversight
Professor Graeme Laurie
Director, AHRC Research Centre
for Studies in Intellectual Property
and Technology
University of Edinburgh
DNA Database: current
situation
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Custodian Unit safeguards the
integrity of the Database and
develops policy
The Database Strategy Board:
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Home Office
Association of Chief Police Officers
Association of Police Authorities
Human Genetics Commission
New Gov proposals: Ethics Group
and Forensic Services Regulator
Proposed
governance
framework
Criticisms of Gov proposals
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Lack of transparency
Issues of influence and control
Questions of independence
Concerns about accountability
and trust
New Ethics Group
• Remit and influence unclear
• We recommend development of a
ethics and governance framework on:
– remit
– relationship with Strategy Board
– responsibilities for reporting
publicly and handling complaints
– powers
– maintenance of independence
Removing DNA from the
Database
• Records are removed in ‘exceptional
cases’ under discretion of Chief
Constable
• If current system of retaining DNA
remains, we recommend:
– public guidelines on how to apply to have
records removed
– police to justify need for retention
– independent body to oversee requests
International
exchange
• EC wants direct, online access to DNA
databases across Europe
• The Prüm Treaty proposed for
exchange of information across EU
• We recommend:
– safeguards to protect sensitive
information on the UK DNA Database
being shared with other countries
– provisions in Prüm Treaty to ensure its
operation is properly monitored
The future: new legislation?
• Current legislation for forensic use
of bioinformation is piecemeal
• Need to think about future
possibilities and challenges
• We recommend:
– a statutory basis for the
regulation of forensic databases
– a greater commitment to
openness and transparency