Toronto's Police Chief wants all people charged with a crime to give blood sample

Note the reference to it taking three years to secure a conviction. I gather the Chief takes the view that everyone is presumed guilty until ... What?


Sunday, April 13, 2008 - 09:23 AM
By: Irene Preklet

Toronto - Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair wants Canadian police officers to have the power to demand a DNA sample from anyone charged with a serious crime, not just those convicted of one.

It's something that is now being done in the U.K. and several U.S. states.

Blair says after someone is charged, it can take three years to secure a conviction and during that time, that person can be on the street committing more crimes.

Right now there more more than 40,000 samples in the Canadian DNA database, many from unsolved cases. But taking samples when people are charged would mean the DNA of innocent people will also be catalogued.

The U.K. recently began collecting DNA from suspects when they're charged, not just convicted of a crime.

James Morton
1100 - 5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4