Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner's annual report laid in Parliament

The Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner’s Annual Report for 2022 to 2023 has been laid in Parliament.

The report was produced by the previous Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner, Professor Fraser Sampson, who held the role during that period. He left office on 31 October 2023.

The report sets out the findings and observations of the Commissioner in relation to his responsibilities for overseeing police use of DNA and fingerprints in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and for encouraging the proper use of public space surveillance cameras.

The report covers a few topics such as research on use of surveillance cameras and drones, including police use of surveillance cameras; local authority use of surveillance cameras and police use of unmanned aerial vehicles/drones.

It also discusses DNA handling errors, with the number of DNA samples unusable because of handling errors increasing from 953 last year to 1,214 during this reporting period.

The report found an increase in use of Section 63g powers (asking the commissioner for permission to keep DNA and/or fingerprints of people who are arrested, but not convicted, of qualifying offences).

There was a decrease in the number of occasions when police forces applied for NSDs to allow them to keep the biometrics of unconvicted people who are believed to present a risk to national security.