Should DNA samples be taken from benefit claimants?

To help prevent benefit fraud of course. But also aid crime prevention and detection since claim is more prevalent among the benefit claiming classes? Just a thought.......

I mean crime is more prevalent......

Absolutely not. The state are becoming way too involved in our lives and invading our privacy way too much.

yes

Oh yes. That'll stop em in their tracks.

I think DNA samples should be taken from anyone who believes that DNA samples should be taken from anyone. You frickin moron!

No, I wouldn't want to live in a society that pre-judged to that extent.

No. Because that would imply that *every* beneficiary is guilty of committing a crime. Even my 76-year-old grandmother.

Yes, especially if they look suspicious.

No. How does that help? What would their DNA prove in a fraud case?

Not the crime prevention. To many mistakes can happen and it could cause someone there life.

the answer to your question is NO but if I may just make an obsevation on your comment and sweeping generalisation
CRIME my dear is very comman amongst other "CLASSES" just wonder what "class" you belong to could it be the ignorant class the biggest thieves are corperations who once they have your bank details can dip into your account at will I can give you examples I paid 1 year subscription to microsoft and the following year they took money from my account without notification as it happened I dindnt want their product anymore as it was rubbish also BT has done this to me coincidence NO I dont think so

Do you mean health benefits?! That's stupid.

I think that we should all have our full details including DNA, photos and fingerprints on file with the authorities, to aid catching criminals and for our own protection in illimination from being suspected of wrong doing.

I have problems with your question. May I enlighten you a bit ?

Firstly, I do not like a "benefit-claiming class" notion.

Does this put my Mother in the same bag as rogues & fraudsters, as she claims her senior citizen pension, and has been issued with a bus pass ?

Secondly, I do not see how practically having everones DNA on a national database could be effectivly used to track false claims.

Thirdly, it could be a subject for the civil rights lobby
I am aware that I am tracked in every town street, every supermarket & railway station, even on a bus or a train.

I will happily carry a National identity card, if issued free, as I have nothing to hide, but I'm jiggered if I will pay for one !

Some years back, I had an injury installing a power station in a rural Mid-East town, for their benefit.
I had to fly home for medical care, and claimed an Incapacity Benefit for a few weeks, which I am fully entitled to, having put thousands of pounds into the system over many a year.

So if you have a bee in your bonnet, in many cases quite rightly about claiments, plese remember that not all seeking a bit back from the Treasury are crooks !

Bob

Hello Annabel,

If you are taking DNA samples from benefit claimants, why stop there? What about anyone who commits a minor driving offence, eg parking on double yellow lines. Or someone who gets an on the spot fine for dropping litter. The list is endless.

The fact that someone is in receipt of benefits does not necessarily mean that they are defrauding the Government, or more importantly us.

If someone was convicted of a benefit fraud, it may be more reasonable to take a DNA sample, however I don't see how much good having a DNA sample would do.

There are many schools of thought about keeping a DNA base and there has been talk of putting the complete population on this.

Although I feel this is an affront to ones human rights, I do believe that those who are law abiding citizens would not be overly concerned if their DNA was held. I know I would probably object but would also accept it.

It is the same for compulsory ID Cards. I believe that a great many countries have them, including EEC countries. ID Cards have the potential of protecting us more against ID theft etc, but the information held on them is likely to be another step closer to 'Big Brother'

A basic ID card without all your personal details contained on a micro-chip or strip is far more acceptable to the type the Government is advocating.

During the Second World War the British population had to carry ID Cards, so the concept of ID Cards is not that new.

Poseidon

Absolutely not. Would that include claimants of Child benefit and Child tax credit?
When I was on benefits, I never had any desire to go mug any old ladies. Just thought you ought to know.

Gordon Brown, when Chancellor, sold gold at the price of $275 an ounce, it's current price is over $1,000 dollars. He sold 400 tons of the stuff, thus losing our country untold wealth, and setting us up for recession. I have a mate who claims a state pension, and works two days a week cash in hand, thus not paying income tax on a few hundred pounds a month. Who is the bigger threat to our way of life? Who is the criminal? Let's subject our politicians to the same rules they propose for the rest of us.

Benefit fraud is stealing and is costing law abiding citizens a lot of money but there is nothing to suggest the majority of benefits claimants are anything but honest. There are a few scams pulled by dishonest people but that just makes them crooks, not part of a 'benefit claiming class'.

There is a problem of how to stop the crooks who might be stealing the benefits intended for a genuine claimant. That becomes more of a challenge when people move around, use different names or do not have much in the way of reliable proof of identity. There does need to be a way of ensuring that benefits are paid without delay in cases of genuine need and entitlement but it is difficult to imagine a system of safeguards that does not involve some greater invasion of privacy.

If I want the state to provide some help to me, then it is reasonable that I should cooperate in facilitating adequate proof of identity. DNA testing is probably not a sensible solution because it is expensive and time consuming to establish the profile and then cannot be checked quickly or cheaply to verify identity. At the same time, it is more invasive than necessary. State involvement in private life should be the minimum absolutely essential for the intended lawful purpose.

well only after they have all been handed stripy uniforms and had scum tattooed on their fore heads. we could then hand all you upright citizens a stick to beat them with if they come too close (should they infect you with their idleness and criminality.) for fraudulent claim's lets start with MPs first shall we.? you know...those honourable people we all want to aspire to.

Yes!

No as it would not help to identify benefit cheats.

No hows that going to help?

no, just sterilise them and put them in detention centres. it`s done to vulnerable asylum seekers that are hung from that same grubby rung as benefit claimants.
IRONY!!!

Yes.... I think everyone at birth should have it taken.

DNA should be taken at birth, everyone has a name, and eventually a national insurance number so why not a DNA profile No need for stupid identity cards then.

Obviously it would help solve crime, but it would also discover missing persons, determine who people are if they have been killed and hidden etc. It could identify matches for hospital, eg blood match kidneys etc. So it would benefit the whole of society.

Obviously the negative comments will come from people with something to hide.