Palmerston North police have opted to take dna samples from people convicted of minor offences, prompting an outcry from a human rights lawyer.
"Certainly in my area, if somebody is convicted of a specified offence, we will be seeking a dna sample," area commander Inspector Pat Handcock told the Dominion Post.
Those who objected to having their dna on record should stay off the police radar.
"Don't commit any crime, quite simple," Mr Handcock said.
The stance taken by Palmerston North police was more hardline than other districts which tended to target repeat offenders, or those suspected of more serious crimes.
However, police national headquarters told the newspaper other districts should follow Palmerston North's lead.
Wellington human rights lawyer Michael Bott said obtaining samples from minor offenders was over the top and could lead to civil liberties being threatened.
"We're rapidly heading to a Soviet-style regime where people were sent to gulags for having illegal pie carts."
The practice was brought to light when a man was forced to give a dna sample after being arrested for stealing vegetables from a neighbour's garden.
Broke and hungry, he stole a cauliflower, cabbage and pumpkin from the nearby paddock.
"If I'd have known I had to give dna, I would have pleaded not guilty and could have fought it," he said.
Offenders were given notice when a dna sample was required to allow them to seek legal advice.
