The Financial Times has reported that The Ada Lovelace Institute expresses some “concern” about proposals to increase the use of facial recognition in policing, which also includes CCTV and body-worn cameras.
The Police Minister, Chris Philp’s remarks rehash an ethical and moral debate about the merits of biometric technology to enhance police capabilities while capturing and retaining biometrics information.
The spectrum of criminality is very subjective and extensive, with current guidelines for retaining data differing depending on the severity of crimes committed.
Since changes imposed in 2013, fingerprints and DNA from proven innocent individuals are destroyed immediately, with the police compliant with more a restricted retention schedule.
DNA profiles and fingerprints pertaining to convicted criminals however can be retained indefinitely, for a period of 3-5 years or immediately destroyed.
