Staff Supplying DNA

1. How many police staff have given their DNA to the police, how many have refused and how many have requested that their details are removed?
2. I would prefer to receive a hard copy of this information if possible.
3. Just a quick email clarification regarding the FOI from Philip Davies MP.
4. He would like information on DNA retention of both police staff and police officers.
5. We would like the information to include all Police Officers who have had their DNA taken for whatever reason. It would benefit us if you could separate the two figures, database and elimination, in your reply. I imagine however that any Officer who has had their DNA taken for the elimination procedure would not have recourse to request their DNA be removed, is this correct?

In accordance with section 1 (1) (a) of the Act our response is provided below;

Section 17(5) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 allows a public authority to issue a refusal notice, relying on a claim that section 12 applies must, within the time for complying with section 1 (1), give the applicant a notice stating that fact.

From 1st August 2002 it was made mandatory for police recruits to provide a DNA sample for the Police Elimination Database. Prior to that date it was entirely voluntary. It is still voluntary for Police Staff, Special Constables & PCSO's etc. The national DNA database holds limited information about a subject and it would not be possible to identify the occupation of persons on the databases without a manual search of each employees file, there are currently 4,345 officers and staff employed by Cheshire Constabulary. Therefore, it is estimated this would exceed the appropriate limit. The appropriate limit is defined in the Data Protection and Freedom of Information (Fees and Appropriate Limit) Regulations 2004, which is covered by statutory Instrument Number 3244 of 2004. Furthermore, Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 allows a public authority to refuse to respond to a request for information where the cost of compliance would exceed the appropriate limit as defined by the above mentioned regulations.