Policy paper

Biometrics Commissioner: annual report 2020

The annual report of the Biometrics Commissioner for 2020.

• From: Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner
• Published: 29 November 2021

Documents

Biometrics Commissioner: annual report 2020

Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-2890-7, E02669527 11/21

PDF, 720 KB, 82 pages

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Biometrics Commissioner: annual report 2020 (accessible)

Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-2890-7, E02669527 11/21

PDF, 733 KB, 79 pages

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Details

The 2020 report of the Commissioner for the Retention and Use of Biometric Material (Biometrics Commissioner) was submitted to the Home Secretary on 31 August 2021 and published on 29 November 2021.

You can read the government’s response to the Biometrics Commissioner’s annual report 2020.

The role of the Biometrics Commissioner was established by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (PoFA) and Fraser Sampson has occupied the role since March 2021. His role is to provide independent oversight of the regime which was established by PoFA, and which came into force on 31 October 2013, to govern the retention and use by the police in England and Wales of DNA samples, DNA profiles and fingerprints.

In addition to various casework responsibilities in relation to DNA and fingerprints, he also has a UK-wide oversight function as regards their retention and use by the police on national security grounds.

This 2020 report covers the Biometrics Commissioner’s casework activities, the general operation of the PoFA regime and a variety of wider issues that have arisen in connection with biometrics in both the general policing and national security spheres.

Published 29 November 2021