Police to delete Green's DNA profile from database

The Tory MP arrested after obtaining leaked Whitehall documents has hailed a "small but significant victory for freedom" after police chiefs agreed to remove his DNA profile from a national database.

The Shadow immigration minister Damian Green said the Metropolitan Police had made the "right decision" to remove his DNA but called for the records of thousands of other innocent people to be deleted as well.

Mr Green had his genetic fingerprint taken after being arrested in November last year – a move which sparked controversy after police raided his offices in the Houses of Parliament as well as his constituency base and home.

He was held on suspicion of "conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office" and "aiding and abetting, counselling or procuring misconduct in a public office" as part of an investigation into alleged leaks from the Home Office, but no charges were brought.

Around 800,000 people arrested and then found innocent currently have their records retained on the national database, and writing in The Daily Telegraph Mr Green said his success "must not be the end of the matter".