UK IMMIGRATION NEWS

International fingerprint exchange confirmed

Wednesday, 26 August 2009

The Home Office has confirmed that it has commenced sharing the fingerprint data of suspect migrants with countries outside the European region.

The agreement, reached by the Five Countries Conference (a border security group covering Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United States and the United Kingdom), initially covers Australia and Canada with the United States and New Zealand expected to join the scheme shortly. The agreement covers the reciprocal exchange of fingerprints of asylum seekers and foreign criminals in each country with approximately 3000 sets of fingerprints set to be shared in the first year.

The Home Office already shares fingerprints with European countries and has confirmed the project will use encryption and other security measures to protect the shared files. Stringent privacy measures will ensure that all examined fingerprints remain anonymous unless a match is found. Fingerprints will also be destroyed once checks have been completed.

Speaking of the agreement, UK Border Agency Deputy Chief Executive, Mr Jonathan Sedgwick said:

"This new agreement will help us identify and remove individuals whose identities were previously unknown, but also improve public safety through better detection of lawbreakers and those coming to the UK for no good."

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