Report Summary
This report provides members of the Scottish Police Authority Policing Performance Committee with an overview of the proposed Police Scotland (PS), and where appropriate, joint SPA Forensic Services (FS) approach to, and roadmap for, delivery of key biometric objectives.
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Meeting
The publication discussed was referenced in the meeting below
Policing Performance Committee - 18 September 2024
Date : 18 September 2024
Location : online
Current Police Scotland Position & Resourcing
In 2024, SCD repurposed vacant post funding allowing for two biometric focused staff, namely The Head of Biometrics and a Biometrics Data Lead, to be appointed by February 2024.
Despite minimum resources, considerable progress has been made to improve PS co-ordination, governance and understanding of the acquisition, storage, sharing, use and destruction of biometric data and samples. Key deliverables met within our first 6 months of operation include:
- Satisfactorily discharging all four outstanding SBC Recommendations from March 2023, as per the approach updated to members in June 2024.
- Supporting the executive re the current facial matching position, as well as other emerging technologies.
- Progressing a Biometrics Comms Strategy, as well as key lines in respect of common FOI’s and media enquiries, to ensure consistent and factual external messaging.
- Supporting policy design to incorporate biometric sampling as part of future officer recruitment vetting.
- Supporting the SBC and Scot Gov as SMEs, to deliver their Laws of Retention review, including five PS recommendations, as well as future sign-postings, for consideration as part of their final report.
- Representing PS at strategic Home Office and NPCC biometric Boards, forming an understanding of the wider UK and international biometrics data landscape.
- Supporting the organisation of the inaugural Scottish Biometrics Conference.
- Successful re-parent of six Chief Data Office staff who provide an arrestee (criminal justice) DNA sample quality, submission and compliance service.
- Providing an SME and SPOC service for the office of the Biometrics Commissioner, including PS representation on the SBC’s Advisory Group.
- Formalising a tactical, strategic and executive level biometric governance structure, including improved joint-working with FS, who are currently joint-data controllers for aspects of DNA and Fingerprint samples and data.
SPA Forensic Services have identified their Head of Acquisitive Crime and Operations Crime Manager as strategic and tactical leads for biometric data and samples.
