Roadside Driver Drug Testing - how samples are managed

Why is there a concern when the NSW police procedures are very clear that the samples collected:

A simple observation that would appear to have a basis in law somewhere deep in our legal system. A consumer issue at this point in time? Perhaps not.

In looking around what is topical on the web, there are many gripes concerning the use of roadside drug testing. No concerns in Oz at the top of the piles related to how the swabs or other samples might be used for DNA analysis.

If such a concern exits, it would appear to be a much broader one concerning police/government collection of DNA from all sources with or without the knowledge and approval of individuals.

I’m confused as to the comment on ownership of the samples once taken. The test kit is the property of the NSW Police. The logic that as a tax payer we own the kits over any right of ownership in favour of NSW police seems an uncommon point of view. Perhaps a court of law might determine otherwise. It would seem unlikely.

Perhaps the key question is to ensure negative samples are appropriately disposed of and that there is no record relating the sample (other than the clear result) to the individual tested.

P.S.
I guess those of us who may have undiscovered crimes have the most to loose if current legislation is changed to enable DNA profiling of the whole population. All in the interest of the government delivering a better user experience to the tax payer? :thinking:

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