McArthur responds to report showing police custody photos unusable for catching criminals

Responding to the embargoed report from the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland, which warns that a software error means some custody photographs taken by Police Scotland are of such poor quality that they cannot be cross-checked against images of suspects captured from doorbells and CCTV retrospectively, potentially leading to crimes not being detected, Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP said:

“It is critical that there is a high standard set for the quality of custody photographs. When there is so much footage coming from doorbell cameras in particular, officers will be frustrated that some of the service’s own custody photos can’t be used to cross-check and identify criminals.

“This report reflects the importance of getting the basics right before rushing ahead with new technology like live facial recognition, where there are also serious concerns about invasion of privacy and mistaken identity.

“There are clear examples of where facial searching technology can have positive outcomes in the context of more serious crimes. I want to see Police Scotland working closely with the Biometrics Commissioner to implement its recommendations and put in place the proper foundations for this technology to be used correctly."