New fingerprint device for police

[Dave]

I think Alan would like to press a bell to do his shopping in future....

So that would be as a way of giving the police his fingerprints then?   

[Rudolph Hucker]

I think Alan would like to press a bell to do his shopping in future.... (oh, don't you hate double negatives) Not sure whether the bell then does the shopping :-)

Brilliant summary Howard, thank you. Sadly the "vicious, out-of-control dictatorial regimes believ[ing] in monitoring and controlling all citizens all of the time" is increasingly the norm globally these days (not just in Britain). An electorate kept in fear will not challenge or revolt so is the easiest state for unimaginative, uninspired and frankly unworthy politicians. And that is not a party political point - I think they're all pretty much the same.

Fortunately though, as Alan sums it up - we can express opinions and not necessarily fall out over it.

So that's all right then...

Now, back in my box

[Dave]

Let us hope that the days will end when we don't have to press a bell in order to do our shopping!

 

[alan@marple]

Thank goodness, that we can express our opinions and I respect your view Howard, but I do not agree.

Let us hope that the days will end when we don't have to press a bell in order to do our shopping!

[Howard]

Going slightly off the immediate topic of the fingerprint machine here, Alan, but that is sloppy thinking. The "I'm innocent and therefore have nothing to fear from ...[insert whatever the flavour of the month is for curtailing the public's civil liberties]" argument is really poor and is what has led us into the situation we're in now with extensive state infringement on our civil liberties.

If you extend the logic you've used then will you object to a government spy camera in every room of your house, including your bedroom, linked back to a police monitoring station? Because, apparently a lot of crime goes on behind closed doors. Criminals conspiring, thieves dividing up their loot, drug dealers etc. The police could clear up a lot of crime with these new powers. Surely if you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear?

Our need for privacy does not, in any way, imply that we have something to fear or hide. This is completely wrong and, as I said above, lazy thinking. To invade your privacy, someone should have a very good reason. One valid reason would be if you were committing criminal acts or strongly suspected of doing so. Then, with due process of law, the police could invade your privacy for a strictly limited period, associated with the alleged criminal activity.

Only vicious, out-of-control dictatorial regimes believe in monitoring and controlling all citizens all of the time "just in case" a tiny minority of individuals get up to no good. In fact it is the innocent who have the most to fear. Criminals and terrorists will simply find a way around detection methods – it will be a minor irritation (or even an opportunity) to them. Only the careless and guileless will be caught up in the bureaucratic nightmare. It is they who will be fined and criminalised for any one of the proposed ‘ID crimes’ such as failure to renew on time.

[alan@marple]

I am all for this type of technology.

What a fantastic Idea. I would be very happy  if after a crime was committed, such as burglary, that the offenders were caught "bang to rights" by the use of this equipment.

What I can't understand is "innocent" peoples objections to CCTV and other modern methods of detecting crime and criminals. I don't have a problem with the need for an ID card,, why should I, what have I to fear?

A civilized society has every right to the hope and expectation of a peaceful existence, to feel comfortable and safe in the home and on the street and in the parks.

I wish the magistrates were given greater powers to impose heavier penalties on serious offenders

[wolfman]

Is this an infringement of our civil liberties, as will be the ID card. What will happen to the prints of innocent people, I bet they won't be destroyed just like DNA if you have had DNA taken for whatever reason is is kept on file for ever.

[wolfman]

New fingerprinting device to be introduced

Police officers are to be given a new device that can establish a potential offender's identity within minutes.



Officers across Greater Manchester will be issued with a mobile electronic fingerprint device that will help save hours of time in identifying criminals and deliver swift punishment to anyone who deliberately gives false information.

As part of a national project called Lantern, 35 of the hand-held devices will be given to officers across all GMP divisions.

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 (PNC).

At the push of a button, this sophisticated device will allow officers to see if offenders are 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.
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.

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.

"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.

"With this excellent piece of equipment, more criminals will be brought to justice."

The scheme is being rolled out Forcewide but Specialist Operations officers have been using the tool as part of the pilot scheme and have achieved some impressive results.

In one particular incident, a driver who was stopped in Crumpsall tried to give false information but after a check on the Lantern system, it was revealed he was wanted for attempted murder in the Midlands and he was arrested.

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.

from GMP website author not stated

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