… detectives have ruled out a mass DNA trawl of the city where she lived, it emerged yesterday.And does that please the ‘Mail’?
No:
The decision will come as a blow to many who supported a call for ¬widespread testing across Bristol in the quest to match a DNA sample from saliva found on the landscape architect’s dead body.
The move will also be seen as controversial – especially as the Daily Mail understands that the sample has already been run through the national DNA database without finding a match.Of course, it won’t please those who have already made utter fools of themselves either.
Among those who have already voiced support for mass testing among male residents of the affluent area of Clifton and beyond are a local MP, and Miss Yeates’s best friend, as well as residents who live close to the street where the ¬victim lived with her boyfriend.And it certainly won’t please those who believe the state is always right and acts only in our best interests, either.
Neighbours in Bristol’s affluent Clifton area living in and around Canynge Road, where Miss Yeates lived, said they had asked police for a mass DNA test.
One resident, who belongs to the area’s neighbourhood watch scheme, said: ‘It’s ridiculous. We would welcome the tests as we’ve got nothing to hide.I think people like you should volunteer your DNA if you wish.
‘This was raised with officers, but we were told that this was not the investigation team’s plans and would not happen. I think they should just get on with it.’
But not mine, or anyone else’s…
I have never yet heard of a crime response in which the entire male (or female) population of the general locality of the victim were given DNA tests.
ReplyDeleteWhy that should happen in the case of Joanna Yeates, who (a) was obviously killed by someone she knew, given the absence of any evidence of a struggle or involuntary departure from her home—and whose murderer cannot therefore be considered dangerous to everyone in the city; and (b) is, despite the personal dimension of the tragedy, one of thousands of women who disappear and are found dead every year, and therefore no different from many—
Wait, what am I saying? Of course this young, pretty, white, middle-class victim is tremendously unique in her victimhood! Test them all, the bastards!
There's a thought! Those that advocate a population-wide DNA database will of course have placed their DNA on the database voluntarily. Just the same as those suggesting tax rises are already making additional contributions to the Exchequer.
ReplyDeleteWell said. Nevermind the cost, I read somewhere it was estimated at about £250M, or the fact that the killer could easily be a) female or b)no longer be in Bristol ...
ReplyDeleteMy real objection is do NOT want the state having a sample of my DNA to put where ever the hell they like, thanks very much.
LegIron has estimated the cost similarly, but the main drawback to this kneejerk nonsense is that it could take five years to test all males in the Bristol area.
ReplyDeleteBut, never mind, roll on the state's intrusion into our lives - let's test the entire population! It'll only take 30 years. We'd better start with older men to catch them before they die and avoid justice - oh bollocks, I can't keep this bullshit going...
... and, of course, every DNA sample taken WILL be retained on the database. Like it?
ReplyDelete"I have never yet heard of a crime response in which the entire male (or female) population of the general locality of the victim were given DNA tests."
ReplyDeleteIt's happened here before, but in small, localised areas. It isn't foolproof; the case of Colin Pitchfork shows that.
Oddly enough, his case too involved 'young, pretty, white, middle-class victims'...
"Those that advocate a population-wide DNA database will of course have placed their DNA on the database voluntarily. Just the same as those suggesting tax rises are already making additional contributions to the Exchequer."
Quite!
"...it could take five years to test all males in the Bristol area."
It'd tie up the entire police force too. Little chance of them solving any other crimes in the meantime.
"... and, of course, every DNA sample taken WILL be retained on the database."
Today, Bristol. Tomorrow..?
I used to visit Bristol in the course of my work.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure they've got DNA....
Anyone who thinks this is a good idea should have Bayes' theorem branded on their foreheads. The number of false positives you'd get in testing a quarter of a million samples would be catastrophic. These fucking idiots seem to think that CSI is a documentary.
ReplyDelete