Revised plans for the length of time that DNA profiles of innocent people will be kept on the national database for England and Wales are being released.

The Home Office has changed it’s mind in the case of adults arrested but cleared, proposing that after six years they should that all have their DNA profiles removed from the database .

The Home Office recently proposed that the records of violent and sexual offenders should be held for for up to 12 years.

Under the proposals, 17 and 18 year-olds who are arrested for sexual and violent offences will still have their DNA fingerprints kept for six years even if they are released without charge or later found innocent at trial.

Ministers say holding profiles of those without criminal convictions is needed to help track down offenders.

They refer to cases such as the murder of Sally Anne Bowman, which was solved because the DNA of her killer, Mark Dixie, was on the database after an earlier arrest, but details of the measures, reported in the London Evening Standard on Tuesday, still outrage civil liberties groups.

Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty, said:

“It seems the Government still refuses to separate the innocent and the guilty and maintains a blanket approach to DNA retention.

“This grudgingly modified policy creates a repeat collision course with the courts and ministers look stubborn rather than effective or fair. Nobody disputes the value of DNA and anyone arrested can have a sample taken and compared to crime scenes, but stockpiling the intimate profiles of millions of innocent people is an unnecessary recipe for error and abuse.

The changes were prompted by a ruling last year in the European Court of Human Rights that permanently holding profiles from everyone arrested was “blanket and indiscriminate”.

Nick Clegg has also spoken out against this decision. He said.

“People who are innocent should be removed from the DNA database immediately. No ifs and no buts.”

Community observers say that this has sent out a clear message that Labour are no longer the party that is looking out for the interests of minority groups.

Matilda MacAttram director of Black Mental Health UK said:

“With just six months to go until the next election, this government would be wise to rethink this position. This community traditionally vote Labour but are unlikely to vote for a government that has criminalised them through their ill thought out policies.”

Olu Alake President of 100 Black Men of London added:

“The message to the government is simple – No innocent DNA on the database!” Olu Alake President of 100 Black Men of London added.