SA Civil liberties group urges against DNA storage

The South Australian Council for Civil Liberties says police should not be allowed to keep the DNA of people cleared of criminal offences.

The debate has been sparked by a District Court ruling that found police ignored a legal requirement to destroy DNA samples of people accused, but not convicted of a crime.

Commissioner Mal Hyde wants that legal requirement changed.

"I would certainly like to see the destruction requirement removed and I would like to see a greater simplification of many other sections of the legislation," he said.

But the chairman of the South Australian Council for Civil Liberties, George Mancini, says there needs to be a more moderate approach.

"You can't just give the police all the powers all the time just because they want them or ask for them," he said.

State Attorney-General Michael Atkinson says the Government has to balance civil liberties with police needs