Who am I ? Well ... we know where you live+ APB on Lord Levy - kidnapped again ?

I woke up in a Soho doorway
A policeman knew my name
He said "You can go sleep at home tonight
If you can get up and walk away"


chorus:
Well, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
I really wanna know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Tell me, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
'Cause I really wanna know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)

“Who are You ?” The Who

Fingerprints have been used as evidence of identity since the French anthropologist Alphonse Bertillon devised a system of standardised measurements. Modern technology provides many different supportive techniques, palm prints, facial, iris patterns , DNA which may be combined with official databases for vehicles, passports / visas / taxes / National Insurance / Immigration / Prison / Police / Courts for law enforcement purposes.

If you are a UK resident and have provided your fingerprints or other information, have been caught speeding through the Automatic Number Plate Recognition system (ANPR) or provided a DNA swab which is required on arrest you may wonder what happens to the record produced… by the way 10 Police forces this month will be trialling LANTERN for live mobile identification in conjunction with APNR and eventually it will be in use by all police forces throughout England and Wales (but not Scotland and Northern Ireland).

If photographed (see Footnote re pic here) your face will appear on FIND, the National Facial Image Database not to forget National Video Identification Strategy (NVIS), which is part of the Home Office's Street Crime Initiative (SCI) of April 2002. Since then, two systems have been used to provide automated and systematic approach to delivering identity parades: Profile Matching which is more commonly known as (PROMAT) and Video Identification Parade Electronic Recording known as VIPER.

Nor should you overlook The Vehicle Procedures and Fixed Penalty Office (VP/FPO) which streamlines (?) the processing and tracking of fixed penalties issued for motoring offences.
Finally … let’s hope you don’t appear on ViSOR the Violent Offender and Sex Offender Register which maintains data and intelligence (?) on those individuals who have been identified as posing a risk of serious harm to the public.

PITO

The Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) have supported UK law enforcement bodies for the last 10 years. From April 2007 a single organisation, the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA), will replace all the existing national policing organisations such as PITO.

The Information Systems Strategy for the Police Sevice ( ISS4PS) was officially launched on the 24th July 2006. One of the clearly defined goals of ISS4PS is :
Police IT will be managed under a single governance structure, (NPIA) with clearly defined responsibilities.

PITO used to be responsible for the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) . In 2001 the huge US defence Contractor Northrop Grumman Corporation introduced Livescan allowing live fingerprint capture with direct transmission of the digital images to NAFIS, enabling an immediate identification (‘live ID’)

Livescan is a product of Identix Incorporated (Nasdaq:IDNX) ihe world's leading multi-biometric technology company. Identix provides fingerprint, facial and skin biometric technologies, as well as systems, and critical system components that empower the identification of individuals in large-scale ID and ID management programs.

In the US the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD12) will be rolled out by October this year. HSPD12 and FIPS201 call for all federal government employees and contractors to undergo a fingerprint background check as a precursor to being issued an interoperable PIV smart card that would grant secure access to designated buildings and information technology infrastructure across the federal government. Analysts estimate that at least 7 million Federal employees and Contractors will receive a PIV card.

On August 29, 2006, Identix merged with Viisage (NASDAQ: VISG) whose products include IdentityTOOLS(TM) SDK, Viisage PROOF(TM), FaceEXPLORER(R), iA-thenticate(R), ID-GUARD(R), BorderGuard(R), PIER(TM), HIIDE(TM), AutoTest(TM), FacePASS(TM) and FaceFINDER(R).

This deal results in the formation of L-1 Identity Solutions Inc. (With the rather iconic NYSE Ticker : ID).

Viisage's IBT will merge with Identix Identification Services to create a subsidiary offering electronic fingerprinting technology for applicant fingerprint submissions and background checks. IBT's primary business was with the federal government awhile IIS served mostly state government, creating complimentary business operations, says Jim Moar, president of Minnetonka, Minn.-based Identix.

"We're not quite there yet, but we're getting toward creating what is a national network of fingerprinting centers," Moar says.

PITO's Director of Identification, is Dr Fred Preston who In the 1990s spent nearly 4 years working with the FBI, in the US, developing and implementing the United States Federal fingerprint system, Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) for which Grumman Northrop were major contractors. IAFIS went live nationwide in the US in 1999 with 48 million records. Dr. Preston’s many international connections include promotion of standards for the exchange of information for law enforcement, and he chairs the Interpol AFIS Experts Groups.

In 2000, the US Congress directed the US Department of Justice to develop a plan to integrate the INS Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT) and the FBI Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS).

IN 2001 Grumman Northrop were contracted for 5 years (US$14.5 Mn contract) to integrate for the US Department of Justice the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT) and the FBI Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS). When completed, it was stated , the new system will allow federal officials to conduct background checks on illegal immigrants more quickly, efficiently and accurately.
IDENT1

In 2004 the IDENT1 platform developed by Northrop Grumman Corporation (INS Automated Biometric Identification System) was introduced by PITO. In April 2005 the first major project milestone was achieved – start of IDENT1 Service and Transfer of Responsibility (TOR) from NAFIS and Scottish Livescan services to IDENT1

The upgrade of all bureau hardware to IDENT1 strategic platform was completed by November 2005.

By July 2007 it is intended that the Strategic Information Services Platform (SISP) platform to enable biometric identification and links to criminal justice and public safety agencies will be fully installed.

IDENT1

Being able to identify one person from many is a cornerstone of policing.

PITO-inspired technology now lets the authorities do this faster and more accurately than ever. IDENT1, supersedes NAFIS, adds increasingly sophisticated identification techniques to the existing platform, while ensuring business continuity of the existing service to police.
IDENT1 is part of a wider drive towards formulating codes of best practice for government use of biometrics, such as facial imaging, fingerprint and iris technology.

Grumman Northrop in development of IDENT1 worked with SAGEM (Sagem Defense Securite is a high-technology company in the SAFRAN Group) who with Identix developed the Mexican voting system identification procedures which produced such an interesting result last month.

WHY ?

Why do the UK Law enforcement services rely on a US based defence contractor to plan, develop, install and maintain their internal law enforcement agencies personal identification services ? Ask your MP.

AND FINALLY

If you wonder what all this technology is designed to achieve consider these figures from the Cambridgeshire Police Website explaining their use of mobile and static APNR systems ;
1. 1.9 million vehicles on the DVLA database have no registered keeper.
2. Up to 10% of cars do not have a valid MOT certificate. (automatic £60 fine)
3. Over 1.6 million vehicles on UK roads do not have valid vehicle excise – a loss to the Treasury over £150 million every year. (automatic £60 fine and payment of unpaid tax)
4. The Association of British Insurers estimates 1 Mm. (5% of all drivers) Drivers drive without insurance - this equates to around 5% of all drivers. (An offence punishable by an endorseable £200 fine and six points on your license).
5. It is not unusual for drivers caught for the above offences to have outstanding fines, credit card fraud problems, or have other reasons to appear on the Police National Computer.
6. By use of multiple cameras in different locations, speeding vehicles can be identified.
With the completion of the LANTERN system with real time Livescan fingerprint identification, your details can be checked instantly at the roadside – and of course you vehicle and other details, name, address etc., will enter the IDENT1 database.

FOOTNOTE

Lord Patel does not have the resources of the Metropolitan Police who recently kidnapped Lord Levy (this may be a picture of the Karaoke King) who relieved him not only of his computers, but after taking his fingrepritns also his DNA (ugh!).

His picture is posted here ( as what our transatlantic ousins call an All Point Bulletin -APB) in case anyone saw him accompanying his tennis partner on abrief holiday in the Holy Land and adjacent territories this weekend as his personal messenger and Middle East envoy and food taster.

Lord Patel' s (admittedly limited) database , records in 1999 he visited 8 Middle Eastern countries in this capacity staying in British Embassies, including Syria, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Israel, Egypt and Lebanon (where he was accused by the Lebanese Government of bringing them the Israeli position and the British Ambassador had to issue a statement to try and calm the situation down).

The Guradian (20/8/06 - 3 weeks ago) did report that the stackheeled diplomatic gadfly had "private talks with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to "test the diplomatic waters," and he also met Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

The Jewish Telegraph said that reports of him being snubbed at this much heralded meeting were untrue and that,"Prime Minister (Ehud) Olmert has stated unequivocally that he views Prime Minister Blair as a sincere partner for the furthering of peace and stability in the Middle East," quoting an Israeli (London) embassy spokesman. The Jewish Telegraph online said reports spoke of , "the Israeli people look forward to welcoming Tony Blair to Israel in the near future."

Which wasn't what they said in Lebanon...Hezbollah leader Ghaleb Abu Zeynab, told Tony to stay away....

"I am not speaking on behalf of Hezbollah but all the Lebanese people. They do not want someone who cried crocodile tears to visit their country," Zeynab is quoted saying.

"He is up to his ears in the blood of Lebanese women and children.

He is not welcome here. He is a killer. He killed a whole nation, not just individuals," he said.

Which rather suggest that bouffant haired bon vivant was not really getting his Middle Eastern Envoy act together too well.

At a recent Downing Street Press Briefing (14th July 2006) the PMOS said when asked about the ME activities of the Totteridge Tennis coach , (without, the official scribe remarks a trace of irony) , " the PMOS said that the vast bulk of his work was behind the scenes ".

Which is why we circulate his picture. Of course if you see him being escorted in handcuffs to the rear of a Police van. Don't worry he is in good hands.