They correctly ruled that innocent people shouldn't have their DNA samples left on the government's ever-expanding centralised DNA database, on the grounds that it's an invasion of their privacy.
I'll quote the essence of the decision, at para. 125:
"[We] find that the blanket and indiscriminate nature of the powers of retention of the fingerprints, cellular samples and DNA profiles of persons suspected but not convicted of offences, fails to strike a fair balance between the competing public and private interests and that the respondent State has overstepped any acceptable margin of appreciation in this regard [and it] constitutes a disproportionate interference with the... right to respect for private life and cannot be regarded as necessary in a democratic society. "
Although the ruling doesn't automatically scrap the government's rules on the database, it is a binding decision on the UK and so means the government has no real option but to scale it back significantly. The only question is what they do in light of the decision.
The only downside is the delay in the case - it was lodged back in 2004 and only now has a ruling been made. Still it's an early Xmas pressie for us all. Tweet
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