An MP who tried to give his DNA to West Yorkshire Police has called for the extended use of CCTV cameras and for more DNA profiles to be stored on the database to solve crimes.

Shipley MP Philip Davies also called for increased use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition – which was vital in tracking down the murderers of PC Sharon Beshenivsky, shot dead in Bradford in November, 2005.

The coalition Government has pledged to further regulate CCTV and remove the profiles of individuals on the DNA database who are not successfully prosecuted after three years.

Speaking in a Westminster Hall debate, Mr Davies said the effective technology should be encouraged in the fight against crime and he would lobby against any plans to restrict the use in the name of “so-called civil liberties”.

He said: “I actually tried to give my DNA to my local police force, but it was rejected because I was not a suspect or involved in a previous crime. I have written to the Home Secretary asking why people who volunteer their DNA are being refused the right to do so, but am still awaiting a reply.

“In many areas, CCTV is watched by live monitoring teams who can call police to a scene as soon as a crime is witnessed. Unless you stationed millions of police on every street corner, park, road, etc, without CCTV these crimes would go unreported or even undetected.”

Mr Davies told MPs that CCTV, the use of DNA and ANPR did not impinge on anyone’s freedom but instead could provide vital evidence in keeping people safe.

He added: “In a country where crime is ranked as the third most important issue, the public seem to be streaks ahead of politicians in recognising the importance of these crime-fighting capabilities.”

A Home Office report into public attitudes towards CCTV in 2005 revealed that 82 per cent of people strongly agreed or agreed that the benefits of CCTV outweighed the disadvantages.

On DNA Mr Davies argued being on the database would be no different to having a National Insurance number and would not impinge on law-abiding citizens.

Mr Davies said many violent criminals had only been jailed because their DNA was taken when they committed a more minor offence. He urged the Government to listen to experts including an experienced appeal court judge Lord Justice Selby who wants every UK citizen or visitor to be put on the DNA database and the Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer who also says DNA plays a part in protecting the public.

Mr Davies said: “In the cases of the most serious crimes, it could be many years before a further offence is committed by someone who is not charged or who is cleared of carrying out an earlier criminal act. This concerns me greatly and proposals to destroy what could be potentially crucial information need to be very carefully considered. There is always the risk that even the day after any cut-off point someone could, for example, go out and commit a murder.

“In that instance, their previous DNA would not be available to the police to detect the crime and prevent further murders as it would have been destroyed in the name of civil liberties.”

Home Office minister James Brokenshire said: “The use of technology must strike the right balance between the wider public protection and respecting private life rights. It is this sense of proportionality which is central to the debate.”