LONDON, England (CNN) -- The British police practice of keeping DNA records of anyone they arrest is a human rights violation, The European Court of Human Rights ruled unanimously Thursday. The European Court of Human Rights says the UK should not be keeping DNA records of everyone they arrest. Two Britons took the case to the court after the police retained their fingerprints and DNA when criminal cases against them ended without conviction. Both then requested that the samples be destroyed, but their request was denied on the basis of a British law authorizing them to be retained indefinitely. The court awarded them 42,000 euros ($53,000) to cover their legal costs.
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UK police practice of keeping DNA records of suspects is "human rights violation"
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The European Court of Human Rights says it is "indiscriminate"
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Two Britons took action after police retained samples despite dismissal of cases
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