Fingerprints will be checked on the streets of Bolton
5:10am Tuesday 16th December 2008 in News By Paul Keaveny
The new mobile fingerprint device
POLICE officers in Bolton are to be given a new high-tech fingerprint device that can establish a potential criminal’s identity within minutes.
Officers will be issued with the mobile electronic fingerprint machine which will help save time in identifying criminals and those who deliberately gives false information.
Thirty five of the hand-held devices will be given to officers across all GMP divisions as part of a national project called Lantern.
While on the beat, officers can check a person’s identity with the machine if they are already on the National Fingerprint Database, Ident1, which is linked to the Police National Computer.
At the push of a button, the sophisticated device will allow officers to see if the person is wanted for any other crime in the country and within minutes, their identity can be established so officers can decide on the spot if any further action is needed.
Assistant Chief Constable Dave Thompson said: “This device will be absolutely invaluable in our fight against criminals and will have a hugely positive impact on front-line policing in Greater Manchester.
“It will enable officers to prove whether someone is who they say they are within minutes. It can take hours to arrest someone and transfer them to a police station just to establish their identity, so the hand-held device will mean officers can spend more time on the streets and less time in custody suites, which is what the public want.”
He added: “It also sends a powerful message to criminals. With this piece of kit, they cannot lie to police about who they are. For instance, if we stop someone who gives false details, within minutes we will know their true identity and officers can decide on the spot if further action is needed. There will be no place to hide.”
The scheme is being rolled out forcewide but specialist operations officers have been using the tool as part of the pilot scheme.
Anyone stopped will have to voluntarily agree for the device to be used. However, refusing to provide prints may result in the officer having to arrest and detain someone until their identity has been established.
The fingerprints taken off anyone not on Ident1 will be discarded and not stored on any database.
The Lantern scheme is currently being piloted by a number of police forces and is expected to go nationwide within the next 12 months.
The device works by electronically scanning the person’s index finger that is then sent, using encrypted wireless transmissions, to Ident1. A search is then carried out against millions of prints that are stored and matches are returned to the officer.
pkeaveny@theboltonnews.co.uk
