- Perfect – “Authority was given to the police in 2001 to take and retain DNA samples from everyone they arrest in connection with a �serious recordable offence�. Everyone; whether subsequently released, charged, convicted or acquitted. Prior to this change in the law, the police had been retaining DNA samples illegally for around seventeen years. The police now have over two million DNA records.”
Postman Patel (following up on yesterday’s security alert at Manchester Airport) – “A police spokeswoman confirmed the suspect had been arrested under the Terrorism Act and was being questioned. Subsequently he has been held under the Mental Health Act, a controlled explosion by a hastily summoned bomb squad revealed the man�s clothing and his passport, but no bomb or weapons…
‘A man who had a picture taken of him at Manchester Airport without his consent has agreed an out of court settlement of �4,000 with the airport. Tim Hedgley had his photograph while passing through airport security when travelling on a domestic flight. His picture was used to ensure he did not buy duty-free goods and to check his identity at the gate.
‘The photograph was taken without his permission and was therefore a breach of the Data Protection Act. He agreed to receive agreed an out of court settlement of �4,000 with the airport.'”