Every so often, the Swansea-based Evening Post provides a none-too-subtle reminder that it is not just part of the right-wing stable of publications (inc. Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday) but is also edited by people with highly questionable insights.
Whilst even the Daily Telegraph points out the unfairness of inconsistencies within UK police forces on DNA retention – recently highlighted by Conservative researchers - the Beans on Toast seems far more sanguine about people remaining on a national database even though they have never been charged with any offence.
In an inane editorial which starts off with blather about balancing individual rights with collective responsibilities, the paper questions if there actually is a public outcry and then states “Surely if you have done nothing wrong you have nothing to fear, even if you once did let the police swab the inside of your cheek”.
Leaving aside the temptation to suggest that the author should lead by example and trot along to the local nick to offer up a voluntary sample, such breath-taking statements do tend to make you question other claims about how the nation needs a “free, independent and powerful regional press acting as the voice of the community”.
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(CS)
1 Comments:
"Let the police swab the inside of of your cheek"? Clearly the ignorant prat who wrote this little gem is unaware that refusing a DNA sample whilst in custody is in itself an offence. Similarly he or she does not know or care how the number of arrests have jumped up in this country (thanks to Straw) and for offences which did not even merit a finger wagging a few years ago. All so that 'suspects' can be photographed, finger-printed and forced to submit to DNA sampling. As you say, let them give a voluntary sample if they feel so relaxed about this practice.
Then agin, having seen today's Evening Post front page headline "My big boobs are shrinking" I don't think that this rag deserves to be taken seriously as newspaper or even resembles such a description.
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