The head of the National Bureau of Investigation, Rauno Ranta, had told the newspaper Savon Sanomat that such a database would help solve cases of murder, violence, and sexual assault. In addition, says Ranta, it would greatly aid in identifying the deceased.
Salminen, however, feels that forcing citizens to give DNA samples is ethically questionable. He also opposes giving police the right to catalogue and use fingerprint data which will soon be included in passports.
Ranta feels that privacy could be preserved if the database was managed by the National Insurance Institution (KELA) or by the Ministry of Justice's medical facilities. Ranta suggests that police could only be allowed to use the database in certain strictly defined circumstances, or perhaps with a warrant.
This is not the first time the National Bureau of Investigation has urged the creation of a national DNA register. Currently they already have a DNA database of around 30,000 convicted criminals who served more than six months in jail.