Italy's government has said hotspots will be created where authorities can fingerprint migrants, and that it will now allow force to be used in gathering biometric data.The initiatives will be launched at immigration centres to be run jointly by European officials and local police, according to the official in charge of implementing national immigration policy.Mario Morcone told the news agency Reuters he expects to collect fingerprints from up to 90 percent of the migrants.”Certainly there's going to be a greater determination to get the fingerprints,” Morcone said.The official said that whoever does not agree to give their fingerprints, or who does not intend to seek asylum, will be sent to a detention centre to be deported.Last week, the EU agreed on a plan that would see countries establish hotspots to screen migrants more carefully. Italy has agreed to open six, and the European Commission said Greece will model its own hotspot network on Italy.In August, Britain's government said EU member States must respect their obligations and work together to tackle attempts by others to thwart the correct application of fingerprinting laws on illegal migration.In response to an EU commission document on the matter, London's Home Office said groups of irregular migrants and asylum seekers from certain countries of origin, notably Eritrea and Syria, have refused to cooperate in being fingerprinted by Member State authorities.
Italy ramps up fingerprint efforts for migrant issue
