Theresa May accused of lying about Labour policy on BBC's Question Time

'This Tory stance isn't tough on crime, but rather hypocrisy', Ms Abbott tells The Independent

Theresa May has been accused of lying about Diane Abbott’s position on the DNA database, during the BBC Question Time Leader’s Special.

The Prime Minister’s first question of the evening saw her asked her why she should be trusted, given her “track record of broken promises and backtracking”.

Mrs May responded with a speech about her contributions to British law enforcement, before making a comment about the Labour Shadow Home Secretary.

“I said I would ensure our police and our security services had the powers they need to be able to do their jobs and I gave them those in the legislation I put through," she said.

“And I made sure we kept the records of criminals and terrorists on the DNA database whereas Diane Abbott actually wants to wipe them clean. I don’t think that’s a good idea. “

The Labour Leader Media Twitter account labelled the claim an "outrageous lie".

And Ms Abbott was quick to deny the validity of the statement, posting on Twitter: "Desperate stuff by May. Claims I want to wipe DNA database clean. Never said that. Curious that she is singling me out for attack”.

The Conservative Party press office responded to Ms Abbott by posting a quote from something she had said about the matter in 2010: “We shouldn't even have guilty people's DNA on the database indefinitely”

However, during the BBC's Andrew Marr show over a week earlier, Ms Abbott clarified the statement, which is over seven years old.

She said: “I am in favour of a DNA data set. I’m not in favour of keeping the DNA of children who’ve committed no crime.” She also expressed support for the statement that anybody found guilty of a crime should have their DNA kept on the system.

Ms Abbott also told The Guardian in 2009 that regulations around the DNA database should be changed so that innocent people are not it.

On the Prime Minister's comments, Ms Abbott told The Independent: "It is unethical for hundreds of thousands of innocent people to have their DNA indefinitely held on what is essentially a government database of potential suspects.

"Some years ago Tory MP Damian Green was rightfully removed from the database, having committed no crime. Other innocent citizens should be afforded the same respect.

"This Tory stance isn't tough on crime, but rather hypocrisy. If it's good enough for a Tory MP, it’s good enough for the rest of the British public."

The UK has a highest percentage (8.4 per cent) of its population on a DNA database in the world.

According to a Metropolitan Police Authority report, there are over five million individuals currently retained on the UK’s national DNA database. Approximately one in five of those have not been convicted of any offence.

A Conservative Party spokesman told The Independent Ms Abbott's comments on the subject were "very clear".