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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Police to fingerprint on streets | Police to fingerprint on streets |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Police across England and Wales are to begin taking fingerprints while on patrol using mobile electronic devices. | Police across England and Wales are to begin taking fingerprints while on patrol using mobile electronic devices. |
| The portable gadgets - similar to a pocket PC and linked to a central database - will enable officers to identify suspects within minutes. | |
| Police say they will particularly help identify people using false identities, although fingerprints can be taken only if a person gives permission. | |
| Ten forces will pilot the machines over the next year. | |
| The equipment will be distributed among the forces in Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Lancashire, North Wales, Northamptonshire, West Midlands and West Yorkshire, as well as to British Transport Police and the Metropolitan Police, over the next two months. | |
| Combat false identities | Combat false identities |
| Under the pilot, codenamed Lantern, police officers will be able to check the fingerprints from both index fingers of the suspect against a central computer database, with a response within a few minutes. | |
| It's a first to search a national database and get a response back in a couple of minutes Chris Wheeler | It's a first to search a national database and get a response back in a couple of minutes Chris Wheeler |
| "The handheld, capture device is little bigger than a PDA," explained Chris Wheeler, head of fingerprint identification at the Police Information Technology Organisation PITO. | "The handheld, capture device is little bigger than a PDA," explained Chris Wheeler, head of fingerprint identification at the Police Information Technology Organisation PITO. |
| He said it meant more officers could remain patrolling streets for longer. | He said it meant more officers could remain patrolling streets for longer. |
| "Screening on the street means they can check an identity and verify it. | "Screening on the street means they can check an identity and verify it. |
| "And if they verify it on the street and the person is currently not wanted by anyone but is known to the system for a reason - that is sufficient for fixed penalty notices." | "And if they verify it on the street and the person is currently not wanted by anyone but is known to the system for a reason - that is sufficient for fixed penalty notices." |
| Currently an officer would need to arrest a person and take them to a custody suite to fingerprint them. | Currently an officer would need to arrest a person and take them to a custody suite to fingerprint them. |
| Electronic safeguards | Electronic safeguards |
| Bedfordshire Police is the first force to rollout the trial. | Bedfordshire Police is the first force to rollout the trial. |
| The device will be used with the Automatic Number Plate Recognition team, who identify vehicles of interest to the police. | The device will be used with the Automatic Number Plate Recognition team, who identify vehicles of interest to the police. |
| If a vehicle is stopped, police will be able to identify the driver and passengers. At present about 60 per cent of drivers stopped do not give their true identity. | If a vehicle is stopped, police will be able to identify the driver and passengers. At present about 60 per cent of drivers stopped do not give their true identity. |
| The device has an accuracy of 94-95% and will be used for identification purposes only. | The device has an accuracy of 94-95% and will be used for identification purposes only. |
| It sends encrypted data to the national ID system using GPRS - a wireless system used by many mobile phones. | It sends encrypted data to the national ID system using GPRS - a wireless system used by many mobile phones. |
| More than 6.5 million fingerprints are cross-referenced and sent back to the officer. | More than 6.5 million fingerprints are cross-referenced and sent back to the officer. |
| "It's a first to search a national database and get a response back in a couple of minutes," said Mr Wheeler. | "It's a first to search a national database and get a response back in a couple of minutes," said Mr Wheeler. |
| The information on the device is encrypted and there are electronic safeguards to prevent misuse, if the machine was lost or stolen. | The information on the device is encrypted and there are electronic safeguards to prevent misuse, if the machine was lost or stolen. |
| Screening device | Screening device |
| Electronic "live scan" machines used in police stations remain the principal method for fingerprinting suspects for evidence. | Electronic "live scan" machines used in police stations remain the principal method for fingerprinting suspects for evidence. |
| Live scan machines have a 99.5% accuracy rate and are used in conjunction with a fingerprint expert. | Live scan machines have a 99.5% accuracy rate and are used in conjunction with a fingerprint expert. |
| "We have a national programme which will mean by the middle of January 2007 every custody suite in England and Wales and most in Scotland will have a live scan unit installed, " said Mr Wheeler. | "We have a national programme which will mean by the middle of January 2007 every custody suite in England and Wales and most in Scotland will have a live scan unit installed, " said Mr Wheeler. |
| He likened the mobile device to breathalysers used by officers on patrol. | He likened the mobile device to breathalysers used by officers on patrol. |
| "It's simply a screening device. It's the same as using a breathalyser on the street and using a calibrated one back at the station." | "It's simply a screening device. It's the same as using a breathalyser on the street and using a calibrated one back at the station." |
| PITO provides technology such as the National Automated Fingerprint ID System, called Ident1, to the police. | PITO provides technology such as the National Automated Fingerprint ID System, called Ident1, to the police. |