Sylvia Lim on Registration of Criminals (Amendment) Bill
There may be "discomfort" in some quarters on the expansion of the net for the collection of DNA, said MP Sylvia Lim. Speaking in Parliament on Monday (Sep 12), she pointed out that there is the issue of what the appropriate threshold should be to justify the collection of DNA from individuals simply for the database. She also wanted to know what safeguards will be put in place to ensure that vulnerable groups are not picked on and that the consent of volunteers is informed and freely given. Ms Lim also raised concerns with the risk of contamination and mix-up of DNA samples. She urged the authorities to demand the highest standards in their investigations, including in the handling, processing and analysis of the DNA samples. She added that the relevant agencies, including the courts, should be mindful not to regard the DNA evidence as "infallible", but to assess it in the light of other evidence to minimise the risk of wrongful convictions.
There may be "discomfort" in some quarters on the expansion of the net for the collection of DNA, said MP Sylvia Lim. Speaking in Parliament on Monday (Sep 12), she pointed out that there is the issue of what the appropriate threshold should be to justify the collection of DNA from individuals simply for the database. She also wanted to know what safeguards will be put in place to ensure that vulnerable groups are not picked on and that the consent of volunteers is informed and freely given. Ms Lim also raised concerns with the risk of contamination and mix-up of DNA samples. She urged the authorities to demand the highest standards in their investigations, including in the handling, processing and analysis of the DNA samples. She added that the relevant agencies, including the courts, should be mindful not to regard the DNA evidence as "infallible", but to assess it in the light of other evidence to minimise the risk of wrongful convictions.
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