Police DNA samples 'breach human rights'

DNA samples taken from thousands of former prisoners could be destroyed if police lose a judicial review.

An ex-prisoner, referred to in court as R, argues that a police force's request to collect his DNA threatens him with arrest and infringes his human rights.

Stephen Cragg QC, the barrister in the test case, told the Today programme's Evan Davis it was an issue of human rights.

"It's about striking the balance between the right of somebody to be left alone, and the right of the police to detect and prevent crime," he explained.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Tuesday 24 September 2013.