DNA database claims

[David Hansen]

Radio 4 today had some propaganda about DNA databases, which may well 
have been written by the Home Office. If not they should ask for a 
transcript. "Cold Case, 30 July 2008, Wednesday 30 July 2008 11:00-
11:30 (Radio 4 FM)".

The programme will be available for a while at 
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/radio4_aod.shtml?radio4/coldcase>.

What may be of interest to the list are the assertions made by an 
official from 23 minutes into the programme.

Interviewer: Where is [the database]?

Official: In Birmingham.

Interviewer: Is it very secure?

Official: It is extremely secure. Absolutely secure. [snip]
           It is absolutely very secure.


I suggest that we have another Mr Meadow here, someone guilty of 
serious professional misconduct. Anyone who claims that a database is 
absolutely secure is likely to be a fool or a liar.

While the official may be an expert in forensic science I doubt very 
much if she is an expert in the security of databases. ISTM that like 
Mr Meadow she should have said, when asked about something outside her 
field of expertise, that she would not answer as it was outside her 
field.

There seems to be no way of saving the assertions made in the 
programme, so the BBC will "conveniently" make them disappear in a 
week.







-- 
  David Hansen, Edinburgh 
 I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents 
me   
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54