POLICE take an average of 10 DNA samples a week from Gloucestershire children – some as young as 10.
The figures obtained by the Howard League for Penal Reform revealed officers took swabs from 507 boys and girls aged 17 or under during 2011.
One tested was a baby although the constabulary said it had done so in that case as part of a paternity test in a sexual assault investigation.
Under current rules, police can retain indefinitely the DNA of anyone they arrest for a recordable offence. A new law, imposing tighter restrictions on DNA retention, is expected to come into force later this year.
The Gloucestershire total includes eight primary school children – two 10-year-olds and six 11-year-olds. In England and Wales police took swabs from almost 54,000 boys and girls aged 17 or under during 2011.
They included at least 368 10-year-olds and 1,030 11-year-olds. About 30 per cent of the child DNA samples taken came from girls.
Many of the children will not have been charged with a criminal offence.
Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: "Children who get into trouble with the police are usually just up to mischief. Treating so many like hardened criminals by taking their DNA seems excessive."
The total number of children who had DNA samples taken by Gloucestershire Police in 2010 was 507 – the same as in 2011.
A Gloucestershire police spokeswoman said: "The DNA was taken (from the baby) as part of paternity testing for a sexual assault investigation, which led to a conviction. Following this the sample was destroyed.
"Gloucestershire police do not routinely take DNA samples from children under the age of 10."
Hannah Bennett, youth worker for Pittville and Prestbury Youth, said DNA retention was a tough issue.
"If they commit a crime then that's fair enough," she said.
"There are definitely two sides to the argument but we work with the police and they do a fantastic job."