Police access to passport photos

Police access to passport photos

Author
Discussion

s1962a

Original Poster:

5,734 posts

169 months

Wednesday 4th October 2023
quotequote all
Seems like a good idea to me in principle, and if it helps catch more criminals then even better.

My concerns would be around how the data would be protected - the police need to be totally open about this and their systems be vetted by the same type of organisations that protect google/facebook etc from getting hacked.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-67004576

bitchstewie

55,210 posts

217 months

Wednesday 4th October 2023
quotequote all
I assumed they already had access tbh.

C5_Steve

4,861 posts

110 months

Wednesday 4th October 2023
quotequote all
Agreed, seems like a good idea but surely, the thieves this is aimed at will just cover their faces?

Biggy Stardust

7,068 posts

51 months

Wednesday 4th October 2023
quotequote all
The police need to get their house in order first- there's a lot of mistrust and worry about possible misuse of any additional powers they might acquire.

Their recent form is not good.

Bo_apex

3,032 posts

225 months

Wednesday 4th October 2023
quotequote all
Good idea. Presumably it won't help scoop up criminals visiting on Albanian passports for instance ?

XCP

17,181 posts

235 months

Wednesday 4th October 2023
quotequote all
I would imagine that more criminals have photos on PNC than have passports.

Rivenink

3,936 posts

113 months

Wednesday 4th October 2023
quotequote all
Would need to have safeguards in place.

For example:

How is a match determined, and how is that presented to the investigating officer? Does a 90% match mean 90% of facial features match, or that the algorithm has determined a 90% probability that the matched identity is the suspect. What thresholds will be in place for matching... does the system show 60% matches? 75%? 85%?

What happens if it turns up multiple potential matches, and they're all properly investigated as suspects, do the innocent matches then get a record on the PNC as having been a suspect in a crime? What happens if no corroborating evidence can be found against a single matched, identity, and the case is dropped. Do they still get marked as being a suspect in a crime, simply because the computer said there was a xx% match?

What criteria should be met for these searches to be conducted. Should the police be able to upload captured images of protestors at a peaceful, lawful protest into this system to discover identies? The protests around Sarah Everards murder highlights how the police can get it very wrong.

Will this be used as evidence in court and what weight would it have; can someone be convicted where this match is the strongest evidence the prosecution has?

Edited by Rivenink on Wednesday 4th October 15:08

Digga

41,364 posts

290 months

Wednesday 4th October 2023
quotequote all
Useless idea. Whoever is happy with their passport pictures, let alone thinks they're a good likeness.

Everyone looks like a criminal or halfwit on their passport.

abzmike

9,302 posts

113 months

Wednesday 4th October 2023
quotequote all
XCP said:
I would imagine that more criminals have photos on PNC than have passports.
Only those that have been arrested... So possibly not.

Bigends

5,683 posts

135 months

Wednesday 4th October 2023
quotequote all
abzmike said:
XCP said:
I would imagine that more criminals have photos on PNC than have passports.
Only those that have been arrested... So possibly not.
Dont believe PNC stores photo images

XCP

17,181 posts

235 months

Wednesday 4th October 2023
quotequote all
abzmike said:
XCP said:
I would imagine that more criminals have photos on PNC than have passports.
Only those that have been arrested... So possibly not.
Most crims are repeat offenders.
That's why DNA and fingerprint data bases are so useful.

Bigends

5,683 posts

135 months

Wednesday 4th October 2023
quotequote all
XCP said:
abzmike said:
XCP said:
I would imagine that more criminals have photos on PNC than have passports.
Only those that have been arrested... So possibly not.
Most crims are repeat offenders.
That's why DNA and fingerprint data bases are so useful.
Though more and more offenders are being dealt with out of custody, as a result DNA/Prints and Photos are not taken - making a sizeable hole in the databases

JuanCarlosFandango

8,309 posts

78 months

Wednesday 4th October 2023
quotequote all
I'm sure this will finally actually stop crime!