Greater Manchester Police have apologised to a gay man who was forced to give a DNA sample for a national database under new powers for investigating historical crimes. Former soldier Stephen Close, 50, from Salford, said the sample was taken because of a 30-year-old conviction for having consensual sex with another man. However, the law under which Mr Close was convicted is no longer in force.
Greater Manchester Police said the decision to take the sample had been made without "proper consideration". The sample had now been destroyed, the force added. The force said it was also reviewing decisions to demand DNA samples from other people as part of an operation to gain more information about historical offenders. Mr Close was convicted of gross indecency in 1983 because he had sex with another soldier when both men were under 21, which was the age of consent at the time.
Shadow Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper MP, said in response: “The Home Secretary (Theresa May) must make sure that the ACPO guidance on Operation Nutmeg is being properly and rigorously followed by every police force, ensuring that there can be absolutely no question of gay men being unfairly targeted to give DNA samples. I also urge the Home Secretary to do more to ensure that gay men who still have offences on their criminal record which have now been decriminalised, know how and where to apply to have those convictions removed.”
