WELCOME TO CARDIFF SIXTH FORM COLLEGE

There are calls for the DNA Database to be expanded to include every person living in the UK, and the University of Glamorgan, the Wales Gene Park, Techniquest and Swansea University organised a Mock Trial to explore whether everyone in the UK should be added to the National DNA Database. 

This Trial took place on Saturday 8 November 2008 from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm, at Cardiff Crown Court.

Cardiff Sixth Form College was chosen to form the Defence Team. 

The jurors and prosecution and defence teams were young people aged 15-18. The audience in the public gallery also voted on the evidence using hand-held electronic devices. 

A Trial summary has been produced and the results circulated widely, including visits by the young people to the Welsh Assembly Government on the 3rd of December, and the Human Genetics Commission (a government advisory body) on the 9th of December in Cardiff.


From left to right in the front row; Mrs.Yasmin Sarwar (Associate Principal), Muneeb Hussain (Leader), Jaskirat Chana, Philip Roberts-Burt, Aminur Rahman (Speaker), Anne Barrett (Speaker), Peony Ng and Janet Mak.
From left to right in the back row; Kavil Bhudia, Qassim Malik (Speaker), Christopher Daniels and Grant Sugiura.

The findings of the trial were represented to the Welsh Assembly Government on 3rd December by Muneeb Hussain (Speaker), Jaskirat Chana, Aminur Rahman (Speaker) and Grant Sugiura.

Anne Barrett (Speaker) was invited on BBC Radio Morning Wales on 9th December. Click here for the audio transcript.

Anne Barrett and Muneeb Hussain, both speakers during the trial then represented Cardiff Sixth Form College at the Human Genetics Commission meeting at Thistle Hotel on 9th December 2008.


Photo of Muneeb Hussain and Anne Barrett with Sir John Sulston, a 2002 Nobel Prize Winner in Medicine and Former Director of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge.

For more information on the project please browse www.techniquest.org/DNA