News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Police are arresting people just to get their details on the DNA database, a senior officer claimed yesterday.

The police superintendent told an investigation into the database that the tradition of arresting only when dealing with serious offences had collapsed.

The officer told watchdogs: "It is now the norm to arrest offenders for everything if there is a power to do so.

"It is apparently understood by serving police officers that one of the reasons, if not the reason, for the change in practice is so the DNA of the offender can be obtained.

"It matters not, of course, whether the arrest leads to no action, a caution or charge, because the DNA is kept on the database anyway."

The anonymous allegation was made in a report by the Government's genetics advisers, the Human Genetics Commission. Civil liberties groups seized on it.

Liberty's Isabella Sankey said: "This highlights the dangers of our current DNA retention scheme.

"We are creating a perverse incentive to arrest people solely to get their details."

Shadow home office minister James Brokenshire said: "For too long the Government has had a policy of growing the DNA database for the sake of it, regardless of guilt or innocence."

More than half a million DNA samples are taken from suspects every year and the database holds more than 5.5 million profiles.