FBI and British police plan global database
FBI and British police plan global database
16/01/2008
By Sophie Borland
British police are in talks with the FBI about setting up an international database with details of irises, palms and fingerprints to help catch criminals and terrorists, it has been revealed.
The project, known as Server in the Sky, would enable biometric details and measurements as well as personal information of suspects to be swapped between countries.
It is being coordinated by America but discussions are being held with the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, all of which have formed a working group, the International Information Consortium, to plan their strategy.
The FBI is said to be keen to urge police forces of allied countries to work together to improve international security.
Such a database could hold details of millions of suspects and one section would feature the world's most wanted criminals.
A spokesman from the FBI told The Guardian newspaper: "Server in the Sky is an FBI initiative designed to foster the advanced search and exchange of biometric information on a global scale.
"While it is currently in the concept and design stages, once complete it will provide a technical forum for member nations to submit biometric search requests to other nations."
A Home Office spokesman said: "We are aware of the proposed project. As you would expect we consider a wide range of initiatives as we constantly look to enhance our investigative capabilities.
"Relevant safeguards are always considered as part of this process."
The UK currently holds a database known as IDENT1 which contains of seven million sets of fingerprints and other biometric details which are used by police at the scenes of crimes.
Many of the prints are from a person with either no criminal record or they have yet to have been matched with a named individual.
http://tinyurl.com/2f37z6
16/01/2008
By Sophie Borland
British police are in talks with the FBI about setting up an international database with details of irises, palms and fingerprints to help catch criminals and terrorists, it has been revealed.
The project, known as Server in the Sky, would enable biometric details and measurements as well as personal information of suspects to be swapped between countries.
It is being coordinated by America but discussions are being held with the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, all of which have formed a working group, the International Information Consortium, to plan their strategy.
The FBI is said to be keen to urge police forces of allied countries to work together to improve international security.
Such a database could hold details of millions of suspects and one section would feature the world's most wanted criminals.
A spokesman from the FBI told The Guardian newspaper: "Server in the Sky is an FBI initiative designed to foster the advanced search and exchange of biometric information on a global scale.
"While it is currently in the concept and design stages, once complete it will provide a technical forum for member nations to submit biometric search requests to other nations."
A Home Office spokesman said: "We are aware of the proposed project. As you would expect we consider a wide range of initiatives as we constantly look to enhance our investigative capabilities.
"Relevant safeguards are always considered as part of this process."
The UK currently holds a database known as IDENT1 which contains of seven million sets of fingerprints and other biometric details which are used by police at the scenes of crimes.
Many of the prints are from a person with either no criminal record or they have yet to have been matched with a named individual.
http://tinyurl.com/2f37z6
bin66 - 17. Jan, 01:48
