Dear Editor,

The Government recently indicated its intention to introduce preventative detention as one of its measures in its crime plan. The Opposition, on the other hand, is suggesting that the regulations in respect of the DNA Act be the focus of the Government.

I am worried that our police force is nowhere near where it ought to be in terms of integrity and public trust when it comes to implementing such pieces of legislation.

I have been and remain particularly concerned about the DNA database that has to be maintained. Who will be in charge of it, and what DNA will find its way into the DNA database? Will the DNA to be stored be only that which has been obtained with the full knowledge and consent of the relevant person involved? Will DNA be extracted from people before they are arrested and just when they fall under suspicion? In other words, will DNA be taken from those who are presumed to be innocent and not yet convicted of a crime? In addition, when does one’s DNA finds its way into the DNA database, and what provisions will be in place to have it expunged?

It is very important that we as Jamaicans understand that DNA samples represent an assault on privacy, with deeply personal information being held by others that may be used without our knowledge or consent. It is also important that we, and especially our legislators, understand that there are inherent dangers in granting tools (preventative detention and DNA legislation) to fight crime to a police force perceived to be corrupt, and that the inappropriate or wrongful use of these tools could in time creep into other areas in ways that impinge on personal liberties.

Let us also be careful that we aren’t just introducing legislation as some sort of ‘ feel-good measure’ to say that we are doing something, but with the more than likely outcome that such legislation will either not be enforced or be abused.

Why don’t we fix our police force first and then introduce legislation after?

Colonel Allan Douglas

Kingston 10

alldouglas@aol.com