Report on increased mobile fingerprint scanning

by j, posted in reports
A graphic of a beautiful Black person with a short haircut, red lips and earrings, framed in a 'crop' square on a black background. Text around it says: Technology such as fingerprint scanners and facial recognition is increasingly being used to surveil and encroach on our privacy

Today the Racial Justice Network and Yorkshire Resists have released a brand-new report on the increased use of the Biometric Services Gateway (mobile fingerprinting) by police forces across the UK. We analyse the latest data obtained through Freedom of Information (FOI) requests from April 2020 to December 2021. Download the PDF report here:

final-sts-20-22-foi-report-2Download

Mobile fingerprinting devices allows police officers to scan, on the spot, a person’s fingerprint against the IDENT1 criminal record database and the Home Office IABS (Immigration and Asylum Biometric Service) database without taking the individual into custody. A match may result in an arrest, contact with the Home Office or even detention.

The report discusses how the devices are being used, who they are being used on, and the outcomes and reasons provided for a ‘Stop and Scan’. It also discusses the new Operator Initiated Facial Recognition app and its use on minors.

Graphic of a Black person's hands holding up a sign that says: #HandsOffOurBioData: Mobilising police use of biometric fingerprint and facial recognition technology. It includes the logos of The Racial Justice Network and Yorkshire Resists.