UK's Merseyside Police Plan Biometric Bail System

Police in the UK city of Liverpool are replacing a paper-based bail system with a biometric process, saying that biometrics will save money and cut breaches of bail condition.

The Merseyside Police scheme has been awarded funding of £360,000 (US$531,800) by the  UK  Home Office, from the £70 million Police Innovation Fund aimed at transforming policing through innovation.

Biometric technology and a digital records system will replace a current set-up, which requires suspects to attend a police station and sign a register in person. Instead, suspects will be able to answer bail using their thumbprints, which will be registered when their bail is imposed. They can then register their attendance in a digital kiosk at a time and location designated by their bail conditions. A photograph will also be taken to record any change of appearance.

Assistant Chief Constable Ian Pilling commented: "I am particularly pleased to see the roll-out of the paperless bail system for individuals post-charge in police stations." He added: "Not only will the implementation of this system allow us to save money and strengthen the partnerships we already have with our partner agencies but also will ensure we keep our communities safe and feeling safe."

If successful, the scheme could be extended to other areas, such as monitoring registered sex offenders and people subject to football banning orders.

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