Greater Manchester Police are reported to have apologised to a gay man who was forced to give a DNA sample for a national database under new powers for investigating 'historical' crimes.
The 50-year-old former soldier said the sample was taken because of a conviction 30 years ago for having consensual sex with another man, despite the fact the law under which he was convicted no longer applies.
The incident is one of a number of instances where police have been accused of demanding DNA from gay people convicted of offences decades ago under legislation which has been abandoned. They are part of Operation Nutmeg, being carried out by forces across the country following the introduction of the Crime and Security Act, which became law last year.
All the forces involved have denied the DNA requests are connected with the men's sexuality. The purpose is to help solve serious crimes such as murder, rape and manslaughter dating back up to 40 years. The Act allows police to take samples from offenders whose crimes were committed before 1995, when the DNA database was set up. According to the Association of Chief Police Officers, the powers should be used only to require DNA from the "most serious of previous offenders".
A report by the BBC quotes Greater Manchester Police as saying the decision to take the sample in question had been made without 'proper consideration', and it was reviewing decisions to demand DNA samples from other people as part of the operation.
Deputy Chief Constable Ian Hopkins is reported as saying: "At no point was his sample put on the DNA database, nor was any information put on the Police National Computer (PNC). A senior police officer visited him last night to update him on our position and to apologise personally about what has happened.
"We also thanked him for bringing this matter to our attention and as a result we are now reviewing the cases of those who have had samples taken and those still to be taken."
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