§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action police forces in the United Kingdom are taking to ensure they have a system for identifying fingerprints taken at the scene of crime; and if he will make a statement. [39730]
§ Mr. MacleanAll police forces in England and Wales have systems for the identification of fingerprints taken at scenes of crimes and, in the great majority of cases, they involve computer support. A national automated fingerprint identification system will be introduced in eight pilot schemes involving eight forces in 1997 and will be implemented in all forces in England and Wales by 2001, replacing existing automated fingerprint recognition systems.