Europe
From FDNAPI Wiki
Details on DNA databases in each European country can be found on the country pages. Below are resources covering the whole of Europe, including information about the sharing of DNA database matches within the European Union (which is governed by the Pruem Decisions). The UK has opted out of the agreement. The landmark decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of S. and Marper v. the UK led to the removal of over 1.7 million DNA profiles taken from innocent people and from children and the destruction of 7,753,000 DNA samples in England and Wales.
Resources
- External links
- European Council: Data protection for police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters: Council ready for talks with EP(9 October 2015)
- European Commission: EU Data protection reform on track: Commission proposal on new data protection rules in law enforcement area backed by Justice Ministers (9 October 2015)
- EPIC: EU and US Reach Agreement on Data Protection for Investigations (9th September 2015)
- Statement by EU Commissioner Věra Jourová on the finalisation of the EU-US negotiations on the data protection "Umbrella Agreement" (8th September 2015)
- Questions and Answers on the EU-US data protection "Umbrella agreement" (8th September 2015)
- Santos et al. (2013) Forensic DNA databases in European countries: is size linked to performance?
- European Network of Forensic Science Institutes
- Nederlands Forensisch Instituut: Internationale vergelijking (In Dutch) Includes a list of countries that have implemented the Pruem agreements.
- Europol: Member States
- ENFSI: DNA-DATABASE MANAGEMENT REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS ENFSI DNA Working Group (April 2013)
- UK Parliament: European Scrutiny Committee: Twenty-ninth Report of Session 2012-13: Section 20 The Prüm Decisions: cross-border cooperation on terrorism and crime (23rd January 2013)
- REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL on the implementation of Council Decision 2008/615/JHA of 23 June 2008 on the stepping up of cross-border cooperation, particularly in combating terrorism and cross-border crime (the ‘Prüm Decision’) (7th December 2012)
- StateWatch: Complex, technologically fraught and expensive" ‐ the problematic implementation of the Prüm Decision (June 2012)
- ENFSI DNA Working Group: DNA-DATABASE MANAGEMENT REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS (April 2012)
- European Foundation: Margarida Vasconcelos: DNA and Fingerprints a la carte (20th March 2012)
- PIES – The Prüm Implementation, Evaluation, and Strengthening of Forensic DNA Data Exchange (2011) Research project.
- McCartney et al (2011): Transnational Exchange of Forensic DNA: Viability, Legitimacy, and Acceptability
- Statewatch Analysis "Network with errors": Europe’s emerging web of DNA databases
- EU: Council of the European Union: Implementation of Council Decisions 2008/615/JHA and 2008/616/JHA- Implementation guide - DNA data exchange (12th July 2011)
- Council Decision 2010/482/EU of 26 July 2010 Extension of the Pruem agreements to the non-EU countries Iceland and Norway.
- van der Beek, C.P. (2011) Forensic DNA Profiles Crossing Borders in Europe (Implementation of the Treaty of Pruem)
- StateWatch: Cross-border police cooperation (implementation of Pruem Decision)
- Privacy International: European Privacy and Human Rights
- ISHI: National DNA Intelligence Databases in Europe – Report on the Current Situation (2009)
- Council Framework Decision 2009/905/JHA of 30 November 2009 on Accreditation of forensic service providers carrying out laboratory activities. Official Journal of the European Union
- Schneider PM (2009) Expansion of the European Standard Set of DNA Database Loci - the Current Situation When massive exchanges of DNA profiles are undertaken following the implementation of the Treaty of Pruem, the seven European Standard Set (ESS) loci, required for a match to be reported under the Pruem Directive, will not be sufficient because the chance of adventitious matches will no longer be negligible. In addition, each DNA database contains a significant portion of partial profiles with an even higher probability to match randomly.
- GeneWatch UK: The Marper case Press coverage, evidence and debate surrounding the case of S. and Marper v. the United Kingdom.
- Case of S. and Marper v. the United Kingdom. Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights. Judgment. Strasbourg (4th December 2008) Landmark unanimous judgment by the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights, which ruled that the UK has breached the European Convention of Human Rights by retaining DNA and fingerprints of innocent people indefinitely. Led to the adoption of the Protection of Freedoms Act in the UK.
- Kierkegaard (2008) The Prüm decision – An uncontrolled fishing expedition in 'Big Brother' Europe
- Conference: DNA data exchange in Europe (5-6 June 2008)
- StateWatch: EU: Searching for Needles in an ever expanding haystack: Cross-border DNA exchange in the wake of the Prum Treaty by Eric Topfer
- GeneWatch UK: Pruem Decisions
- DG Home Affairs: Prüm Decision
- Europa: Stepping up cross-border cooperation (Prüm Decision)
- COUNCIL DECISION 2008/616/JHA of 23 June 2008 on the stepping up of cross-border cooperation 2008/616/JHA and 2008/615/JHA are jointly known as the Pruem Decisions. They allow automated exchange of DNA, fingerprint and vehicle registration data across the EU.
- COUNCIL DECISION 2008/615/JHA of 23 June 2008 on the stepping up of cross-border cooperation
- Van Camp & Dierickx: National Forensic DNA Databases: Socio-ethical challenges and current practices in the EU (2007)
- Council of The European Union: DNA databases to assist with criminal investigations (16th June 2006)
- Pruem Treaty Germany, Spain, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria and Belgium signed the Prüm Treaty in the German town of Prüm in 2005. The agreement was later expanded to all EU member states via the Pruem Decisions, which allow automated exchange of DNA, fingerprint and vehicle registration data across the EU.
- Press articles
- Out-law.com: EU Justice Council reaches agreement on Data Protection Directive for police and criminal justice (13 October 2015)
- Expactica: Staff shortage threatens database exchange (13 October 2015)
- Spain Threatens U.K.’s Inclusion in EU Justice Cooperation (9th October 2014)
- The Guardian: Britain to keep European arrest warrant but try to reform it (8th July 2013) Reports that Britain will no longer support the DNA-sharing process known as the Pruem decision.
- BBC: DNA crime-fighting in UK 'lagging behind', experts say (8th February 2013)
- Daily Mail: EU demands access to details of all UK drivers: 'Orwellian' move to hand out personal information to foreign police forces (9th January 2013)
- New Scientist: DNA super-network increases risk of mix-ups (5th September 2011)
- The Daily Mail: One million innocent people could have their profiles wiped from Britain's 'Orwellian' DNA database after court ruling (5th December 2008)
- The Independent: A victory for civil liberties - but the larger war still rages (5th December 2008)
- The Telegraph: Campaigners welcome ruling that DNA-holding breaches human rights (4th December 2008)
- BBC: Europe DNA ruling resonates in UK (4th December 2008)