07 March 2018
Frontline officers can connect the new scanners to their existing mobile devices in order to access the national database.
West Yorkshire Police (WYP) has gone live with real-time, automated, mobile biometrics technology from Motorola Solutions.
WYP is the first force in the country to implement the biometrics solution which will allow officers to check fingerprints against the national database records in less than a minute. It does this via handheld scanners that attach to an officer’s phone which then accesses a new Biometric Services Gateway system.
Following a recent demonstration, the technology will now be rolled out to 250 frontline police officers in West Yorkshire.
Developed in a partnership between WYP and the Home Office, the system is available via the force’s existing mobile devices and allows officers to access the live database from the field to get results in real time. It’s claimed this creates a seamless workflow by removing the need to travel between the field and office or station to process information. As officers are able to obtain the right information about suspects quickly, accuracy is also said to be greatly improved.
“Almost instantly after deployment we found how valuable rapid biometric identification can be,” says Ian Williams, WYP chief inspector and digital policing lead. “We have already been able to identify a seriously injured individual, enabling medical staff to quickly offer accurate treatment and contact the family.
“In another case, we’ve identified a disqualified driver, summonsed him to court and seized his vehicle on the scene – all without the need to travel to the station and practically disable an Armed Response Vehicle for hours.”
The new biometrics solution runs as part of the Pronto suite of applications from Motorola Solutions’ subsidiary Airwave. The apps and the Pronto notebook are used by sixteen forces across the UK, and enable online or offline electronic data capture, use, storage and sharing of information.
Motorola adds that until recently, identify-ing or collecting data from individuals involved costly outdated devices and paper-based processes.
