Appendix 1: Letter from Rt Hon Mike Penning
MP, Minister for Policing, Crime, Criminal Justice & Victims
I am responding on behalf of the Government to the
Committee's report on the current and future uses of Biometrics
issued during the last Parliament. I would like to thank the Committee
for its consideration of this issue and I look forward to working
with you in the future.
I recognise the need to develop a strategic approach
to the use and retention of biometrics. This approach should recognise
that biometrics is fast-changing and provides opportunities for
better secure identity verification, better public services, improved
public protection and the ability to identify and stop criminals.
This should be balanced against safeguarding the rights of the
individual from unnecessary intrusion. The Government's Biometric
Strategy will support an aligned approach on the use and retention
of biometrics and how its implementation is governed.
The Committee flagged 12 conclusions and recommendations.
I have set out in an attachment to this letter the Government's
response to each recommendation.
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