History of IDENT1
Since 1991, Scotland's had an Automated Fingerprint Recognition System, known as AFR. This AFR system allowed the electronic capture, searching and comparison of tenprints and crime scene marks against a database.
Tenprints are rolled impressions of a person's ten fingerprints taken under controlled conditions, normally at a police office. Crime scene marks are the impressions left inadvertently at crime scenes or on objects associated with crimes.
All these fingerprints are stored on a database and SPSA Forensic Services - Fingerprints (Glasgow) maintains the Scottish collection of finger and palm print images, held in both electronic and hard copy formats. There are currently around 360,000 tenprints and 39,000 crime scene marks on the database, which was independent from the systems used in England and Wales.
The AFR system was a tool used by fingerprint officers to search through the collection of tenprints and crime scene marks. These searches provided possible hits or matches. Possible hits were examined by a fingerprint officer whose expertise was required to verify the potential identification or otherwise.
This system has been enhanced over the years and, in 1997, Scotland acquired terminals which electronically capture persons' tenprints. These terminals, known as Livescan terminals, were directly linked to the AFR system.
Palm1 Project
Through a continuous desire to keep abreast of new technology and enhance the service available, Forensic Services - fingerprints Glasgow progressed the possibility of a palm print system which would allow searching and automatic capture of palm prints. And so, in summer 2002, the Palm1 project was set up. England and Wales were also looking at developments in this area.
IDENT1 Project
In November 2001, the Police Information Technology Organisation, known as PITO, established the IDENT1 project. This was to replace the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS), the English and Welsh equivalent of the Scottish AFR system.
It was apparent that the Scottish needs for a palm print system were similar to those of England and Wales and agreement was reached for the two projects to run in tandem, under the umbrella of IDENT1, satisfying the needs of forces both north and south of the border.
In November 2004, the Scottish Executive gave approval for Scotland to become a permanent part of the IDENT One project and, later that month, Northrop Grumman, in partnership with Sagem, was selected as the preferred supplier.
Moving Forward
The IDENT1 project has been running for several years and the installation of the system hardware and staff training on how to operate it is now complete.
The project has gone through a series of key transition phases.
In April 2005, the first major stage of the project was completed when 40 new Livescan terminals, with finger and palm capture capability, were delivered to the Scottish Police Service. This represents an increase of eight additional terminals across Scottish Forces. A further terminal was obtained on behalf of British Transport Police (Scotland).
In December 2006, all finger and palm print data were migrated to the new database to enable Scotland to amalgamate with England and Wales.