NSW cops request more power
The New South Wales Police Commissioner, Ken Moroney, today demanded the right to keep a DNA register of both offenders and innocent people along with iris scanning technologies, as part of new powers that would prevent terrorism as well as far less serious crimes like car theft. It follows news that the NSW Government has already approved new measures giving NSW Police the power to obtain DNA samples from any criminal offender, as part of a host of other anti-terrorism tools. The Commissioner also called for enhanced identification checks when people buy mobile SIM cards in light of charges against detained Gold Coast doctor Mohammad Haneef. However, there are growing concerns about whether the increased powers will be matched by checks on the use of those powers by police.