§ Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sets of fingerprints are currently held at New Scotland Yard, compared with each of the following years: 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970 and 1975.
§ Mr. BrittanI understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the information is as follows:
31 December 1950 1,138,540 31 December 1955 1,393,640 31 December 1960 1,645,197 31 December 1965 1,959,152 31 December 1970 2,153,683 31 December 1975 2,476,016 3 March 1980 2,936,817
§ Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the reasons for (a) taking an individual's fingerprints and (b) for holding them at New Scotland Yard.
§ Mr. BrittanFingerprints are taken as a means of ensuring that a suspect is correctly identified and his previous criminal history (if any) traced. They may also provide evidence of criminal involvement, or severe to eliminate innocent persons from police inquiries. Fingerprints form part of the national criminal record system, which is centralised at New Scotland Yard.