Scotland, whose DNA Database is far smaller than England’s (200,000 versus 4.2 million), is looking to increase the size of is database by changing the law to allow the storage of DNA from children convicted of serious crimes.
While the Scottish government is discussing only doing this for children convicted of serious offences, and for a limited time period it has been shown time and time again in England that once a law and power has been created, the government often extend its range and scope.
In fact just recently a senior Scottish police officer, has called for powers that allow the DNA of convicted and un-convicted people are collected.
This is despite the fact that a huge increase in database size does not increase the likelihood of detection, an increase in collection of samples at crime scene does, but increasing the amount of DNA on the database only has a limited effect.