THE DNA of more than 23,000 Worcestershire people is being stored on a police database.

West Mercia Constabulary is keeping the samples in the hope of solving crimes through the latest forensic techniques.

The surprising figure was obtained by the Worcester News through a freedom of information request.

The force has revealed it has taken and stored DNA samples from 23,478 people in the county since 1995.

The vast majority of samples have been taken since 2001 when new laws enabled the police to keep DNA, even when a person is not guilty of a crime.

The samples have been taken directly from the scenes of crimes or by taking swab samples from the mouths of those arrested.

They are stored on a database managed by the Forensic Science Service, Birmingham, which works with forces across the country. West Mercia says the system is a key police intelligence tool that helps officers identify offenders, make earlier arrests, secure more convictions and provide critical leads for investigations.

Tristram Elmhirst, head of forensic services for West Mercia Constabulary, said: "Parliament has decided that the intrusion on personal privacy is proportionate to the benefits that are gained and the DNA database is a vital tool in helping us detect more crime."

Between 1995 and 2001 samples from just 3,100 people from Worcestershire were stored because police had to destroy them if those concerned were acquitted or charges were not proceeded with.

In 2001 the law changed to enable samples to be taken from anyone arrested for a recordable offence and detained in a police station. They do not have to be destroyed, even if the individual concerned is not convicted.

West Mercia revealed the database successfully matched 541 samples to crimes between January and December 2006. This gave police hard evidence linking suspects with crimes.

Nationally, 45,000 crimes were solved using matches from the database between 2005 and 2006, including 422 murders or manslaughters and 645 rapes.

But Councillor Sam Arnold, representing St John's ward on the city council, said he had "reservations" about storing people's DNA on a computer database.

He said: "You could say it's an infringement of civil liberties. I would be unhappy if my details were on there and if my children's details were on there. I'm not in favour of identity cards either. That's just my personal view."

Last week the Worcester News received national attention after it revealed 93 sex offenders in Worcestershire had been released with just a caution.

The figures, obtained by us under the Freedom of Information Act, showed people charged with sexual offences including rape and gross indecency with a child had avoided court action by accepting a police caution.

Following our front page story the Worcester News featured in national media including BBC Radio 4's Today programme.