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The man who discovered DNA fingerprinting demanded a change in the law today to remove the profiles of innocent people from the national database.

Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys, known as the "grandfather of DNA", spoke out on the 25th anniversary of the discovery of the technique.

He criticised the Government for allowing the profiles of the innocent to remain on the database, despite the fact that they have never been charged or convicted.

Calling for the change in the law, he told the BBC: "My view is very, very simple - has been right from the outset.

"Innocent people do not belong on that database. Branding them as future criminals is not a proportionate response in the fight against crime.

"I've met a fair number of these people and some of these people are very, very upset and are distressed by the fact that their DNA is on that database. They cannot get it off and they feel as if they're branded as criminals."

Sir Alec's comments will be used by critics of the database in their fight to remove...