DATABASE DANGERS

A law student was arrested for “stealing” Christmas cards that he had sent to relatives more than five years before when he was 15. The cards had been recovered and fingerprints found on the envelopes were stored on computer by Lancashire Constabulary. Then David Atkinson, 21, of Thornton Cleveleys, was arrested – mistakenly – on suspicion of criminal damage. His fingerprints and DNA were taken.

Another man surrendered to police on the criminal damage matter and Mr Atkinson was released without charge. However, his fingerprints were matched to the Christmas card crime — and he was rearrested. It was only after a shaken Mr Atkinson refused to admit that crime, urging police to look into the theft more closely, that his innocence was proved. The cards were addressed to members of his family.

Mr Atkinson said: “The potential incompetence, laziness, or overenthusiasm of an individual officer means an innocent citizen can never truly have confidence in the giant police database.” A police spokesman said: “This was investigated thoroughly and dealt with locally to the satisfaction of both parties.”

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