That tantrum's going to go on your permanent record

The director of forensic sciences at Scotland Yard, who is also a DNA spokesman for an organization called the Association of Chief Police Officers, wants to take DNA samples from British children as young as five, if they "exhibit behaviour indicating they may become criminals in later life". Apparently the current threshold of the age of ten is much too late for him:

"Since 2004 police have had the power to take DNA samples from anyone over the age of 10 who is arrested, regardless of whether they are later charged, convicted, or found to be innocent."

Gary Pugh doesn't say exactly what behaviors in his opinion would land a child on the criminal database. Hopefully it would be something more serious than biting one's playmate because they won't share their juice box, which is about as serious as toddler "crimes" get. He does say, however, that "'If we have a primary means of identifying people before they offend, then in the long-term the benefits of targeting younger people are extremely large,' said Pugh. 'You could argue the younger the better'". (Emphasis mine)

Three? Two, even? This has to be one of the stupidest ideas I've ever heard of, even knowing that it's coming from the ultimate nanny-state that is today's England, and I've seen some doozies come out of there. Just imagine how differently a child would be treated by his teachers, counselors, and the government if he had some kind of scarlet letter in his file, not for actually doing anything wrong, mind you, but because they "may become criminals". And forget about keeping such a damaging black mark private. Information such as this leaks out faster than the scoop on who got booted on last night's American Idol.

My guess is that any children treated in such a manner would immediately become a wonderful example of the concept of the self-fulfilling prophecy.

Mr. Pugh, if someone were to place the entire population of your country into a gulag and monitor them 24 hours a day with no privacy at all, crime will be drastically reduced. Can we sign you up for the first spot? You'll have your choice of bunk, and first dibs on the gruel.