Collection of DNA arouses hot debate

By Qiu Quanlin (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-08-15 10:08

GUANGZHOU: Police in this southern city's Baiyun district have started to keep DNA records of employees in entertainment venues, a move that has triggered much debate in the industry.

Some 4,233 employees in 118 nightclubs, KTVs (karaoke bars) and bath centers in the district's Tangjing subdistrict area have undergone DNA tests. The employees also were required to give fingerprints, handwriting samples and photographs of themselves, sources with Tangjing subdistrict's public security station said.

"After the DNA collections, those without criminal records will be issued certificates for working in such venues," said Long Shijun, deputy director of the police station, adding that police are taking the records to improve surveillance of entertainment venues long considered a hotbed of crimes.

"The records, which greatly help police identify suspects, will be sent directly to the city's comprehensive DNA database, to ensure the records will not be leaked," Long said.

The city's DNA database, established in 1992, is one of the four biggest in the country, with about 300,000 records.

Employees of entertainment venues and netizens had a wide range of opinions on the DNA collection move.

"It is reasonable for police to conduct such a database collection," a manager with the Huicheng Bath Center in Baiyun district told China Daily.

However, not all agreed with the new mandate.

"I don't want to have the DNA collection. It is a private issue and will make us feel pressured and discriminated against," said a waitress in a KTV bar who declined to be named.