In today's Feedback section you print 3 letters ("Criminal scheme", "Lost innocence", "Genetic mismatch", all in Feedback, 30 November 1999) protesting the Prime Minister's proposals to extend the DNA databank to include anybody suspected of a crime punishable by a prison sentence
(Make all suspects give DNA, says Blair, 29 November 1999). Why are some people so squeamish about DNA fingerprinting, when it can be so helpful in catching murders and rapists. Today's Telegraph also contains an article on how a convicted killer was shown on the basis of his DNA
profile to have been responsible for two rapes ten years previously (Second life sentence for killer trapped by DNA, 30 November 1999). If his DNA profile had been in the databank the woman he murdered would still be alive.

If it helps to solve serious violent crime - as it manifestly does - I am for extending the DNA databank to ALL citizens. Provided the government does its best to prevent misuse, I would be more than happy to volunteer my DNA profile, knowing that it would help the police solve
and - above all - prevent many violent crimes. The chances of any misuse must be weighed against the benefit of the terrible crimes it would help solve and prevent.

I am not so sure about its use in tackling petty crime, such as car theft. Although I'm forgetting, of course, that for many people car theft is the modern equivalent of horse stealing, worthy of capital
punishment.