LiveScan Good Practice Guide Final · this revised LiveScan Best Practice Manual, now known as the...

NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED LiveScan Good Practice Guide Issue 2

ACPO and National Policing Improvement Agency 1

LiveScan Good Practice Guide ISSUE 2 – NOVEMBER 2010



LIVESCAN GOOD PRACTICE GUIDE

All enquiries about this guide should be addressed to Forensics21 at the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA):

Email: [email protected]

Acknowledgements

ACPO and the National Policing Improvement Agency would like to express their

thanks to all those involved in the drafting of this document. All of the responses during the consultation phase of this project were appreciated and contributed to the

final document.

Association of Chief Police Officers (2010)

National Policing Improvement Agency (2010)

This guide and all the information contained herein is and remains the property of the National Policing Improvement Agency. As such it must not be amended or altered in whole or in part without the consent of the NPIA. The format of the guide closely

follows the requirements detailed in the documentation of the International Quality Standard ISO 9001:2000.



Foreword Since 2006, following a joint venture between the Home Office, ACPO and the National

Fingerprint Board, LiveScan has become established as the optimum means for capturing detainees’ fingerprints. There are now over 400 LiveScan units in

operational use throughout the police forces of England, Wales and Scotland. Following this large increase in national LiveScan use and the changes in fingerprinting powers introduced by the Criminal Justice Act 2003, the first LiveScan

Best Practice Manual was issued in April 2006.

There have been two drivers to fully review and update the existing manual. Firstly,

there has been a major software upgrade (known as EC3) to the system, so it is important that all the improvements and changes delivered by EC3 are incorporated into the revision of the LiveScan Best Practice Manual.

Secondly, the NPIA’s Forensics21 Detainee at Police Station Sampling Project (DAPSS) has had a major impact on the quality of fingerprints taken from detainees. DAPSS is

closely aligned to the use of LiveScan as, amongst its other aims, its purpose is to assist practitioners to obtain fingerprints of the best possible quality from every detainee who is sampled. Staff in Fingerprint Bureaux across the country are using the

DAPSS Fingerprint Quality Codes to monitor and assess detainee fingerprint quality in a continuing effort to improve the quality of all fingerprints captured locally. This will

ultimately result in an increase in the quality of the National Fingerprint Database on IDENT1, leading to quicker identifications and the faster linking of suspects to crime

scenes.

DAPSS also gives advice on the process of fingerprinting detainees, particularly which detainees should be fingerprinted and the point in their detention period at which their

fingerprints should be captured. There are frequent references to DAPSS throughout this revised LiveScan Best Practice Manual, now known as the LiveScan Good Practice

Guide.

LiveScan and DAPSS are now inextricably linked. Each fully supports the other and together they form a powerful combination of technology and process to ensure that

fingerprints of the highest possible quality are captured from detainees.

This document is intended as a practical guide to current good practice for all aspects

of LiveScan use and management. The monitoring of fingerprints captured on LiveScan is pivotal in achieving fingerprints of the best possible quality, so you will find a newly expanded section covering this subject along with a revision of the role

and responsibilities of all personnel involved with LiveScan.

John Fletcher

Assistant Chief Constable Bedfordshire Police Project Executive Process Management and Improvement for ACPO Forensics Portfolio



Contents 1 Introduction 7 1.1 Overview.............................................................................................. 7 1.2 Objectives............................................................................................ 7 1.3 Methodology ........................................................................................ 8 1.4 IDENT1 and LiveScan........................................................................... 8 1.5 Relevant legislation ............................................................................. 8 1.5.1 Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984........................................8 1.5.2 Taking fingerprints with consent ...........................................................8 1.5.3 Retention of fingerprints ......................................................................9 1.5.4 Police Reform Act 2002 .......................................................................9 1.5.5 Other relevant legislation.....................................................................9

1.6 Content ................................................................................................ 9 1.7 Detainee at Police Station Sampling (DAPSS) ...................................... 9

2 Management 11 2.1 Command structure ........................................................................... 11 2.1.1 Gold Command – force ACPO lead ......................................................11 2.1.2 Silver Command – Head of Custody and Scientific Support Manager .......12 2.1.3 Bronze Command – Force LiveScan Managers ......................................12

2.2 Monitoring ......................................................................................... 13 2.3 Dedicated users ................................................................................. 15 2.4 Contract staff ..................................................................................... 15

3 Training 18 3.1 Who should be trained ....................................................................... 18 3.1.1 Custody Officers ...............................................................................19 3.1.2 Custody Inspectors, Chief Inspectors and Superintendents ....................19 3.1.3 Fingerprint Bureau Managers and Scientific Support Managers ...............19

3.2 Training delivery................................................................................ 20

4 Custody 22 4.1 Actions once detention is authorised ................................................. 22 4.2 LiveScan searches.............................................................................. 24 4.2.1 Non-verified Live-ID searches ............................................................24 4.2.2 Verified Live-ID searches ...................................................................25 4.2.3 Print-to-Mark searches ......................................................................26 4.2.4 Immigration searches .......................................................................26

4.3 LiveScan ten-print transmissions....................................................... 27 4.4 Forms taken for outside agencies or other police forces .................... 28 4.5 LiveScan search responses ................................................................ 28 4.6 Detainees who answer bail ................................................................ 28 4.7 Sex Offenders Register ...................................................................... 29 4.8 Custody Management......................................................................... 29 4.8.1 The Custody Manager........................................................................29 4.8.2 The Custody Officer ..........................................................................29

4.9 LiveScan Unit management................................................................ 30



5 Fingerprint Bureau 33 5.1 Fingerprint Bureau activities.............................................................. 33 5.2 Fingerprint quality ............................................................................. 34 5.3 Supporting the LiveScan process within custody ............................... 34

6 Communication 38 6.1 User groups ....................................................................................... 38 6.2 Communication tools ......................................................................... 38

7 Summary of the top tips 42

8 Glossary 45



Section one

Introduction

1.1 Overview

1.2 Objectives

1.3 Methodology

1.4 IDENT1 and LiveScan

1.5 Relevant legislation

1.5.1 Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984

1.5.2 Taking fingerprints with consent

1.5.3 Retention of fingerprints

1.5.4 Police Reform Act 2002

1.5.5 Other relevant legislation

1.6 Content

1.7 DAPSS – Detainee at Police Station Sampling



1 Introduction 1.1 Overview

LiveScan equips police forces throughout England, Scotland and Wales with a powerful

tool that provides:

• real-time identification of detainees while they are still in custody, thereby establishing their correct criminal history to support the judicial process

• early notice of outstanding warrants and Police National Computer (PNC) warnings as a result of prompt identification

• the capability to search the detainee’s ten-prints against the unidentified crime scene marks database

• improved quality of the national fingerprint database on IDENT1

• the capability to search against the immigration fingerprint database to help establish the detainee’s immigration status

• faster inclusion of fingerprints onto IDENT1

• an efficient, clean and user-friendly operation.

These benefits can only be fully realised if LiveScan good practice is followed.

The Criminal Justice Act (CJA) 2003 revolutionised the fingerprint process by allowing all detainees who have been arrested for a recordable offence to be fingerprinted early

in the custody process.

The ability to fingerprint a detainee towards the beginning of the custody process means that the detainee’s true identity and associated offending history can be

quickly established and confirmed. Such prompt identification also contributes greatly to the risk assessment of each detainee as it will highlight all known warning signals

held on their PNC record.

While the vast majority of detainees will be fingerprinted at the start of their detention

period, it must be remembered that some may not be fingerprinted until much later. This may be due to their unfitness to be fingerprinted on their arrival at the station or because their initial arrest was not for a recordable offence. In the case of the latter,

they may be fingerprinted if they are later charged or reported for a recordable offence. No matter when a detainee is fingerprinted, the contents of this guide will

apply.

Personnel involved in taking fingerprints on LiveScan within custody and those employed using IDENT1 at Fingerprint Bureaux across the country, play an essential

role in the criminal justice system.

1.2 Objectives

This document provides guidance in using LiveScan based on identified good practice. Current good practice is set out to enable forces to maximise use of the technology. It

is primarily intended as a reference for police forces but will impact on other agencies within the criminal justice system. While this document cannot be prescriptive, any

diversion from these proven business processes could seriously affect a force’s overall performance in the extremely productive area of fingerprint identification.



1.3 Methodology

This LiveScan Good Practice Guide was developed following an initial review of the original LiveScan Best Practice Manual (April 2006) by suitably qualified members of

the NPIA’s Forensics21 Programme. The revised version was then posted on the NPIA’s Police On-Line Knowledge Area (POLKA) for six weeks as a consultation exercise. It was also reviewed by the standing members of the National LiveScan User

Group (NLUG)..The guide was further revised and amended in response to comments and suggestions received through POLKA and from the NLUG.

1.4 IDENT1 and LiveScan

IDENT1 provides all Fingerprint Bureaux with direct access to the National Fingerprint Database. The IDENT1 ten-print facilities enable the identification of an individual if their fingerprints are held within this ten-print database. Once identification has been

established, a ‘Fingerprints Confirmed’ flag is placed on the associated arrest event for which the fingerprints were taken within the correct record on the Police National

Computer (PNC). This provides the police service with an accurate and up-to-date criminal records database. The National Fingerprint Database currently holds the fingerprint records of over 8.3 million1 individuals.

IDENT1 also allows comparison and searches of crime scene marks against the national database of fingerprints and searches of fingerprints against the national

database of unidentified crime scene marks.

There is also a facility to search crime scene marks against the national database of unidentified crime scene marks, thus establishing linked scenes.

LiveScan allows searches to be launched from custody where a user selects which searches they need and ultimately LiveScan is used to submit each detainee’s

fingerprints for inclusion on the National Fingerprint Database.

1.5 Relevant legislation

1.5.1 Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984

Most detainees will be fingerprinted without consent in line with either Section 61(3)

or Section 61(4) PACE and the Codes of Practice.

1.5.2 Taking fingerprints with consent

It may sometimes be desirable to fingerprint a detainee who has not been arrested for

a recordable offence (or charged with or reported for such an offence). Typically, this may be a person arrested on a non-appearance warrant or arrested for a minor

offence such as driving with no insurance. Such cases often hinge on a matter of disputed identity so the ability to undertake a fast identity check by using the detainee’s fingerprints may prove to be the deciding factor. As there is no power in

such circumstances to fingerprint the detainee without consent, their consent to be fingerprinted must be obtained2 and if given it must be in writing3. The detainee must

be told that their fingerprints may be subjected to a speculative search and the fact

1 Figure quoted is for April 2010

2 Section 61(1) PACE

3 Section 61(2) PACE



that the person has been informed of this should be recorded as soon as is practicable on their custody record.

1.5.3 Retention of fingerprints

Section 64 PACE as amended by Section 82 Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001

allows for the retention of samples after they have fulfilled the purposes for which they were originally taken. However, the samples may not be used by any person

except for purposes related to the prevention or detection of crime, the investigation of an offence or the conduct of a prosecution. The section applies equally to information derived from the fingerprints and imposes no time limit on the period of

retention.

1.5.4 Police Reform Act 2002

Part 3 of Schedule 4 of the Police Reform Act 2002, paragraph 25 gives suitably designated detention officers the same powers as a constable under Section 27 PACE to require certain defined categories of anyone who has been convicted, cautioned,

reprimanded or warned in relation to a recordable offence to attend a police station for fingerprints to be taken.

Paragraph 29 gives suitably designated detention officers the same powers and responsibilities as a constable under Section 61 PACE in respect of taking fingerprints without consent.

1.5.5 Other relevant legislation

See Appendix 3 for other legislation relevant to the taking of fingerprints.

1.6 Content

This guide’s sections outline LiveScan good practice within the areas of management,

training, custody, communication and the Fingerprint Bureau.

Each section highlights particularly good practice guidance in blue boxes, all of which

are summarised in Section 7 of the guide for ease of reference.

1.7 Detainee at Police Station Sampling (DAPSS)

Frequent reference is made in this guide to DAPSS. One of the principle drivers behind DAPSS is to increase the quality of fingerprints that are taken from detainees and

submitted to fingerprint bureaux around the country. The quality standards for fingerprints promoted by DAPSS have been agreed by the police forces of England and Wales and are in use within many of their bureaux. The DAPSS process has been tried

and tested by a number of police forces and found to deliver significant and quantifiable improvements in fingerprint quality.

It is acknowledged that there are other methodologies in use for monitoring and assessing fingerprint quality. The references to DAPSS are not intended to exclude them in any way.



Section two

Management

2.1 Command structure

2.1.1 Gold Command

2.1.2 Silver Command

2.1.3 Bronze Command

2.2 Monitoring

2.3 Dedicated users

2.4 Contract staff



2 Management

LiveScan is of significant benefit not only to custody and the Fingerprint Bureau but the force as a whole. To fulfil LiveScan’s potential, all stakeholders must work in

partnership to promote, utilise and manage good working practices.

Accountability is required at all levels within the force to ensure the criminal record databases are accurate and up-to-date and that LiveScan and IDENT1 are being used

efficiently.

Roles and responsibilities of managers are summarised in Appendix 1 – LiveScan

roles and responsibilities.

2.1 Command structure

It is recommended that the Gold/Silver/Bronze should be:

Gold ACPO Lead

Silver Head of Custody, Scientific Support Manager (SSM)

Bronze Force LiveScan Managers (Custody and Fingerprint Bureau)

2.1.1 Gold Command – force ACPO lead

Gold Command, in consultation with Silver, is responsible for:

• Identifying a Custody LiveScan Manager (Bronze Custody) and a Fingerprint

Bureau LiveScan Manager (Bronze Fingerprint Bureau).

Gold Command, in consultation with Silver and Bronze, is responsible for:

• ensuring that the powers to take a detainee’s fingerprints are strictly adhered

to i.e:

o every person arrested for a recordable offence has their fingerprints

taken

o and any person under arrest for a matter other than a recordable offence is not fingerprinted unless they have given their written consent.

• determining force policy and accountability with regard to Live-ID, Print-to-Mark (P-M) and Immigration searching from LiveScan. Best practice guidelines are

to:

o undertake a non-verified Live-ID for all detainees who are fingerprinted

o undertake a P-M search from custody for all detainees who are

fingerprinted

Maintain the Gold, Silver and Bronze chain of command for LiveScan business to escalate and expedite the resolution of any issues.



o undertake an immigration database search of detainees who are, or suspected to be, non-EU nationals.

• determining force policy and accountability in relation to Fingerprint Bureau call-out and resourcing as appropriate

• determining force procedures and accountability for dealing with Print-to-Mark hits while the detainee is still in custody

• training policies.

2.1.2 Silver Command – Head of Custody and Scientific Support Manager

Silver Command, in consultation with Gold, is responsible for:

• identifying a Custody LiveScan Manager (Bronze Custody) and a Fingerprint Bureau LiveScan Manager (Bronze Fingerprint Bureau).

Silver Command, in consultation with Gold and Bronze, is responsible for:

• ensuring that the powers to take a detainee’s fingerprints are strictly adhered to i.e.

o every person arrested for a recordable offence has their fingerprints taken


• determining force policy and accountability with regard to Live-ID, Print-to-Mark

(P-M) and Immigration searching from LiveScan. Best practice guidelines are to:


o undertake a P-M search from custody for all detainees who are fingerprinted


• determining force policy and accountability in relation to Fingerprint Bureau call-out and resourcing as appropriate.

• determining force procedures and accountability for dealing with Print-to-Mark

hits while the detainee is still in custody.

• training policies.

2.1.3 Bronze Command – Force LiveScan Managers

These force LiveScan Managers will have day-to-day control of LiveScan operations.

It is important that they have a thorough knowledge of both custody and fingerprint issues.

The joint role of the force LiveScan Managers is to ensure that good practice is carried out with the support of the Gold and Silver Commanders and covers the following areas:

• LiveScan training including:

Appoint Force LiveScan Managers – one from Custody and one from the Fingerprint Bureau.



o initial training for new users

o refresher training

o liveScan Unit Manager training

o awareness training for Custody Officers and Custody Managers

o awareness training and quality assessment (including the DAPSS quality codes) training for fingerprint staff involved in the QA process.

• DAPSS training - this should be delivered to all new personnel and considered for existing staff where appropriate.

• awareness sessions for Inspectors, Chief Inspectors/Superintendents who need

an overall appreciation and understanding of LiveScan’s functionality and capabilities

• informing custody staff of the requirements to capture fingerprints in accordance with relevant legislation, checking for compliance and escalating issues where necessary

• implementation of force policy in relation to searches sent from LiveScan (Live-ID, Print-to-Mark, Immigration) determined by the command chain

• supporting the LiveScan Unit Managers at each custody suite

• the overall management of Fingerprint Bureau functions relating to LiveScan

• supporting staff in the Fingerprint Bureau

• production of LiveScan quality and performance statistics on an individual, divisional and force basis using the DAPSS methodology

• providing feedback on fingerprint quality to users based on the DAPSS fingerprint quality codes

• appraising management of system performance, results, successes and value

for money

• participation in the force Custody Group and Scientific Support Unit meetings

• attendance at the Regional IDENT1 / LiveScan User Group

• raising awareness of LiveScan to the force

• communication via the most appropriate media of:

o system updates

o user awareness of LiveScan’s capabilities and functionality

o quality assurance and results.

• monitoring the use of LiveScan (see 2.2 below).

2.2 Monitoring

Monitoring the use of LiveScan is the mechanism by which good practice and value for

money can be measured. Reports should be prepared for the information of the force Scientific Support Manager and Head of Custody. While most data will be available using DAPSS via fingerprint management systems. Some statistics will need to be

gathered from Criminal Justice System data, for example, the number of detainees going through custody. Compilation of such statistics should, therefore, be the joint



responsibility of the force LiveScan Managers (Custody and Fingerprint Bureau). It will be their responsibility to ensure that relevant statistics are compiled and produced.

Initially the reports should be produced monthly but once LiveScan processes and fingerprint quality meet the required standards, less frequent analysis will be required.

Relevant statistics will need to be maintained on three levels:

• individual users

• Basic Command Units (BCU)

• force.

LiveScan is not a fingerprint storage unit. Once fingerprints have been taken and the

detainee’s identity established in custody, the ten-prints should be transmitted for inclusion on IDENT1. Failure to transmit the ten-prints effectively from custody would be contrary to the Data Protection Act 1998. Once the verification process is

completed at the Fingerprint Bureau, the fingerprint forms should auto-delete from the LiveScan units.

Designated persons within the Fingerprint Bureau should be responsible for monitoring the number of fingerprints held on each LiveScan unit in order to have an overview of the force performance. The Fingerprint Bureau LiveScan Manager could undertake this

role.

The Fingerprint Bureau LiveScan Manager should work with the Custody LiveScan

Manager and individual LiveScan Unit Managers to ensure that fingerprint forms held on LiveScan are transmitted quickly to the Fingerprint Bureau.

While LiveScan unit management is the responsibility of custody staff, Fingerprint

Bureau staff are able to monitor the overall position in the force and coordinate management drives to rectify problems.

Forces may wish to compile their own procedures for dealing with fingerprint forms held unnecessarily on units. They should ensure that regular and frequent unit management is undertaken.

This monitoring should highlight any shortfall in the fingerprinting of all detainees who

have been arrested for (or later charged with or reported for) a recordable offence. It may also highlight instances when a detainee has been fingerprinted despite not being arrested for a recordable offence; typically, this will be for matters such as non-

appearance warrants or arrests for minor road traffic offences. In either of these cases, intervention will be required by the management as it is essential that

fingerprinting powers are exercised properly and lawfully.

Monitoring should be undertaken to ensure compliance with force search policies,

including non-verified Live-ID, verified Live-ID, Print-to-Mark, Immigration (non-verified and verified) and the transmission of ten-prints. If there are any issues

Monitor the number of fingerprints held on each LiveScan unit.

Monitor the number of forms received versus the number of detainees arrested for a recordable offence.

Monitor compliance with force search policies on LiveScan.



identified, the force LiveScan Managers should instigate a previously agreed escalation process when necessary.

It is for each force to decide upon the level of monitoring necessary to meet their requirements.

Once it is established that LiveScan search policies are being complied with, the force LiveScan Managers may decide to discontinue regular monitoring and replace it with

dip sampling.

2.3 Dedicated users

Dedicated users who take fingerprints more frequently will:

• produce higher quality fingerprints

• improve the performance of the force

• use LiveScan correctly and more efficiently.

• be easily monitored and corrected.

Ideally, dedicated users will come from within the custody personnel but they may

also be personnel from other units such as Prisoner Handling Units.

Effective management of each LiveScan unit will ensure that the force gains maximum benefit from LiveScan’s capabilities. The lack of such management will result in a loss

of confidence in LiveScan, a failure to improve the national fingerprint database within IDENT1 and heighten the risk that offenders will remain unidentified or offences will go undetected.

Experience has shown that without effective unit managers fingerprints may not be sent for appropriate searches and subsequently will not be added to the database for

a significant time period. LiveScan Unit Managers are required to rectify such failings.

The use of less experienced officers or infrequent users to manage LiveScan units could result in the loss of essential data.

2.4 Contract staff

If contract staff are employed as the designated LiveScan users, the following should

be noted:

• fingerprint quality should be incorporated within the service level agreement

• any issues of high turnover of staff or high numbers of staff used by the

contractor,where quality is adversely affected or there are excessive demands for training, should be addressed

Use dedicated staff to operate LiveScan.

Nominate suitable custody staff to undertake routine management of the

LiveScan unit.

Be aware of additional considerations when using contract staff.



• training provided should meet the requirements of the DAPSS learning descriptors.



Section three

Training

3.1 Who should be trained

3.1.1 Custody Officers

3.1.2 Custody Inspectors, Chief Inspectors and Superintendents

3.1.3 Fingerprint Bureau Managers and Scientific Support Managers

3.2 Training deliver



3 Training Time invested in training will lay a solid foundation on which high quality fingerprints

and the best use and management of LiveScan can be established and advanced.

This chapter sets out good practice for the training of staff in the use of LiveScan and

associated resources. See Appendix 4 – LiveScan training summary for an overview of the training provided and required.

3.1 Who should be trained

Dedicated users who take fingerprints more frequently will:

• produce higher quality fingerprints

• improve the performance of the force

• use LiveScan correctly and more efficiently

• be easily monitored and corrected.

Ideally, dedicated users will come from within the custody personnel but they may also be personnel from other units such as Prisoner Handling Units.

LiveScan Unit Managers will regularly monitor each LiveScan unit to ensure that it is being used properly and effectively.

Ideally, these should be LiveScan users, Custody Officers or a combination of the two.

See 4.9 LiveScan Unit management for details of a LiveScan Unit Manager’s role.

Appropriately trained fingerprint staff will be better able to support the use of LiveScan in custody.

These could be Ten-print Officers, Fingerprint Officers or a combination of both. Consideration should be made to allocate fingerprint staff to individual LiveScan units. This will promote good working relationships between the Custody Unit and the

Fingerprint Bureau.

See 5.3 Supporting the LiveScan process within custody for further details.

The following personnel should have an appropriate awareness of how LiveScan functions and its capabilities regarding the correct identification of detainees:

• Custody Officers

• Custody Managers

Train dedicated users.

Train a small team of LiveScan Unit Managers at each custody suite.

Train fingerprint staff.

Provide awareness training of the functionality and capability of LiveScan

for Custody and Fingerprint Managers.



• Custody Chief Inspectors / Superintendents

• the Fingerprint Bureau Manager

• the Scientific Support Manager.

3.1.1 Custody Officers

Custody Officers will need an awareness of the overall functionality of LiveScan and its capabilities in order to oversee its use. They should ensure that:

• fingerprints are taken:

o in accordance with PACE and any other relevant legislation

o at the appropriate time in the custody process

o from the correct detainees.

• the correct LiveScan searches are launched in accordance with force policy

• each LiveScan search result is fully recorded in the custody record and is acted upon without delay.

3.1.2 Custody Inspectors, Chief Inspectors and Superintendents

These staff should be provided with an overall awareness of LiveScan functionality and its capabilities. This should equip them with sufficient knowledge:

• for the purposes of accountability regarding its use

• to facilitate any necessary escalation process

• to enable the efficient management of resources

• to enforce force policy.

3.1.3 Fingerprint Bureau Managers and Scientific Support Managers

Fingerprint Bureau Managers and Scientific Support Managers are responsible for making sure that all fingerprints are processed within appropriate time scales and that resources are in place to handle Live-ID, verified Immigration and Print-to-Mark

searches.

The benefits and opportunities that LiveScan provides should be widely known

throughout the police force. Input about LiveScan should be included on the following training courses:

• IPLDP (Initial Police Learning and Development Programme)

• Uniform (e.g. custody officer training) and CID training courses

• Detention Officer training

• Fingerprint Bureau staff.

Other forms of communication such as in-force publications and entries on intranet

sites have been shown to be effective. See Chapter 6 on communication for more details.

The attendance of Fingerprint Bureau staff at LiveScan and DAPSS training courses

provides a number of benefits:

• they can build good working relationships with custody staff

Provide awareness training for all other relevant force staff.



• they will develop an appreciation of custody issues and viewpoints

• they can actively advise on fingerprint quality issues throughout the training

sessions

• they can share fingerprint knowledge with others on the course, and answer

queries relating to fingerprints

• they will gain an in-depth knowledge of LiveScan to enable long-term support.

Any fingerprint staff that are unable to be attend a course should be trained by a force LiveScan Manager or designated LiveScan Trainer.

3.2 Training delivery

LiveScan training staff should be accredited in training delivery skills, as well as being

operationally proficient in the taking of fingerprints from detainees whilst in police custody.

Ideally, training should be delivered either on a one-to-one or one-to-two basis. If

there are more than two students at a time, the risk could be a lack of full engagement by those being trained.

The training should take place in a suitable training environment outside a custody

suite to prevent any disruption to custody business and to allow LiveScan trainers to complete the course within the given timescales without interruption.

Experience has shown that the quality of training is reduced and information diluted where cascade training is used. As a result, poor quality fingerprints have persistently been taken and the LiveScan searching capability has not been used to its full

potential.

Provision should be made, where possible, for LiveScan users to visit the force

Fingerprint Bureau as part of user training. This gives them:

• an overall understanding of the complete fingerprint process

• he opportunity to see at first hand why high quality fingerprints are so important

• an idea of the problems encountered if incorrect demographic details are

submitted

• an appreciation of what happens to fingerprints once they are taken – there is a

misconception that they are merely filed somewhere.

Use classrooms or another suitable environment for the delivery of

LiveScan and DAPSS training.1

Do not use cascade training.

Consider including a visit to the Fingerprint Bureau as part of user

training.

Encourage Fingerprint Bureau staff to attend LiveScan and DAPSS training courses as observers.



Section four

Custody

4.1 Actions once detention is authorised

4.2 LiveScan searches

4.2.1 Non-verified Live-ID searches

4.2.2 Verified Live-ID searches

4.2.3 Print-to-Mark searches

4.2.4 Immigration searches

4.3 LiveScan ten-print transmissions

4.4 Fingerprints taken for outside agencies or other police forces

4.5 LiveScan search responses

4.6 Detainees who answer bail

4.7 Sex Offenders Register

4.8 Custody Management

4.8.1 The Custody Manager

4.8.2 The Custody Officer

4.9 LiveScan Unit management



4 Custody

It is essential that force custody units work closely with the Fingerprint Bureau to ensure that the benefits of LiveScan are maximised.

There should be frequent contact between both departments to progress LiveScan matters and it is imperative that staff working in custody and the Fingerprint Bureau have an awareness of each other’s working environments to enable effective

communication.

This chapter sets out good practice for the custody process. Roles and responsibilities

of custody staff are summarised in Appendix 1 – LiveScan roles and responsibilities.

4.1 Actions once detention is authorised

A process chart is provided at Figure 1 LiveScan - Custody good practice.

Risk assessments and health and safety considerations

When a detainee enters custody, a PNC check should be made on the personal details provided.

The Custody Officer is required to make an early and appropriate risk assessment of each detainee.

As fingerprinting involves physical contact with detainees, LiveScan users should use appropriate protective equipment such as gloves.

Initial actions

When individuals are brought into custody following an arrest, it is the responsibility of the Custody Officer to establish their identity and address. Based on the personal

information provided by the detainee they will ascertain from the PNC and force intelligence systems whether the detainee is, amongst other things, a known offender,

has any warning signals, or is wanted on warrant or for other matters.

Following the opening of the custody record and the formal booking-in process, the

detainee’s fingerprints should be taken on LiveScan as soon as is practicable. This may also be the appropriate time to take a DNA sample from the detainee if

appropriate following the DAPSS protocols, take their photograph and complete the PHOENIX Source Document (PSD).

Fingerprint the detainee as soon as is practicable.

Every detainee arrested for a recordable offence should have their fingerprints captured as soon as their detention has been authorised to

comply with the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) 2003. Exceptions to this are detainees who are violent or otherwise unfit to be fingerprinted or juveniles awaiting the arrival of an appropriate adult. In these cases,

fingerprints should be captured as soon as possible to enable sufficient

time for searches to be completed.



As a rule, juveniles cannot be fingerprinted until the attendance of an appropriate adult (refer to Code D 2.14, 2.15 and Notes for Guidance 2A of PACE. It should be

noted that Code D also contains exceptions to this).

Detainees who remain violent or otherwise non-compliant throughout their time in

custody should be fingerprinted using ink and paper.

It is essential that fingerprints are taken at the earliest stage possible:

• to establish or confirm the identity of the detainee

• to ensure that all known information is available to accurately inform the detainee’s risk assessment – by correctly identifying a detainee, staff will have

direct access to their known warning signals held on PNC. This is particularly important for detainees with warning signals such as suicidal or self-harmer

• to ascertain whether the detainee is wanted on warrant or for other offences.

If the force dealing with the arrest has the NSPIS/LiveScan interface and the arrest is on behalf of another force the interface should not be utilised when processing the

detainee.

The detainee’s demographic data is completed automatically for forces with the NSPIS/LiveScan interface. This information mirrors what is entered on the detainee’s

custody record so should not be changed directly on LiveScan. If any errors are noticed, any amendments should be made on the detainee’s custody record. For forces without the interface, LiveScan users should be conversant with the information

they need to complete the demographics screen and should have this available when they log onto the unit to fingerprint the detainee.

If the mandatory fields, including the Arrest Summons Number (ASN), remain incomplete the fingerprints cannot be transmitted to the Fingerprint Bureau and therefore the fingerprints will not be added to the national fingerprint database. An

incomplete form will remain stagnant on the LiveScan unit.

An ASN will be generated by either the custody management system or the force PNC Bureau. This is a unique reference number for an ‘arrest event’ for an individual. The

term ‘arrest event’ includes voluntary attendees who are cautioned or reported for summons and street Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs) for persons who have not been arrested.

The ‘arrest event’ and the ASN are placed on the detainee’s PNC record and the fingerprints, DNA and Phoenix Source Document bearing the same ASN are linked to

this PNC entry.

Good quality fingerprints optimise the chance of establishing identity and linking crime scene marks to offenders thereby maximising the opportunity for detections.

The following principles should be adhered to:

The mandatory demographic details on LiveScan must be fully completed.

Obtain an Arrest/Summons Number as soon as possible after authorisation of detention.

Always take the best possible quality fingerprint impressions.



• all available fingers should be captured as fully as possible

• fingers should be rolled from nail edge to nail edge

• particular care should be taken with palm impressions, The base of the fingers to the wrist crease should be captured including the centre of the palm

• warning messages from the unit during capture should be acted on and impressions retaken if necessary

• the override facility should only be used when necessary

• when it has not been possible to obtain fingerprints of the required (DAPSS) standard, for example, a detainee has very dry skin, the reason(s) should be

clearly recorded in the remarks field on the fingerprint form.

Fingerprints should be taken in accordance with training received. The DAPSS training

material is the approved reference guide for taking fingerprints of the best possible quality.

Through all stages of the custody process the custody record should be updated with

actions pertaining to fingerprinting on LiveScan. These will include:

• the reason that fingerprints are being taken and that the detainee was informed

that the fingerprints would be subject to a speculative search

• who took the fingerprints

• at what time the fingerprints were taken

• if force was used and, if so, who was present.

Where consent has been obtained in relation to the taking of fingerprints or authority

has been given to take them without consent, this should also be recorded on the custody record.

The result of the Live-ID should always be recorded on the custody record.

4.2 LiveScan searches

Once the fingerprints have been captured, the following searches are available on LiveScan. Each search may be selected in isolation or in combination with others.

• non-verified Live-ID,

• verified Live-ID,

• Print-to-Mark,

• non-verified immigration,

• verified immigration.

4.2.1 Non-verified Live-ID searches

A non-verified Live-ID search offers a very quick means of determining whether or not the detainee is a known offender. Once identified all other data held on the detainee’s

PNC record becomes available including:

• offending history and previous convictions

• warning signals

• addresses and associates



• any outstanding warrants

• if they are wanted for or suspected of any other offences.

The detainee’s fingerprints are searched against the national fingerprint database on IDENT1. Sending the fingerprints for a non-verified Live-ID search immediately after

taking them will provide an early confirmation of identity if the detainee’s fingerprints already exist on IDENT1.

The results are returned to the LiveScan unit in the form of a PNC CRO number

without being checked and confirmed at the Fingerprint Bureau.

If the result of the Live-ID matches the PNC check carried out when the detainee was booked in, his/her identity is confirmed.

If the result does not match the PNC check carried out when the detainee was booked

in, then the CRO number(s) must be subjected to further enquiries:

• PNC should be checked for additional information such as description, scars,

tattoos;

• other force intelligence systems and force photographic records should be checked for any relevant information

• speak to the detainee and/or examine any possible proof of identification in their possession.

Once identity is established, the custody record should be updated with any new information. The Custody Officer should undertake a new risk assessment in light of information on PNC particularly warning signals such as suicidal, self-harmer and

contagious.

4.2.2 Verified Live-ID searches

If the detainee’s identity cannot be established by undertaking a non-verified Live-ID search, then a verified Live-ID search should be sent from LiveScan.

Every set of fingerprints taken on LiveScan must be sent for a non-verified

Live-ID search.

Read the Live-ID search result as soon as possible after receipt. Typically, a result message will be received within five minutes of launching the search. Check search responses against the PNC CRO number and act

promptly to confirm identity where there is a mismatch. Always record the

result on the detainee’s custody record.

Send a verified Live-ID search when the detainee’s identity is in doubt.

If you find it necessary to carry out a verified Live-ID search, call the Fingerprint Bureau first. If it is outside bureau hours, follow force

procedures for call-out.



Custody staff should be aware of their Fingerprint Bureau opening hours. Outside bureau hours, force procedure for calling out fingerprint staff should be followed.

Failure to alert the Fingerprint Bureau to a verified Live-ID search may lead to a delay in the result being returned to LiveScan.

The detainee’s fingerprints are searched against the national fingerprint database on IDENT1. Fingerprint Bureau staff then view and compare the search results to confirm

the identity as a known CRO record. The Fingerprint Bureau should contact custody by telephone to inform them of the result of the Live-ID check. The results are also returned to the LiveScan Unit in a message that will contain either the detainee’s PNC

CRO number if a match has been confirmed or the words No Respondents if there is no match.

4.2.3 Print-to-Mark searches

Print-to-Mark identifications can only be made during Fingerprint Bureau opening

hours. Custody staff should be aware that completing Print-to-Mark searches could take some time.

The fingerprints are searched against the national collection of outstanding crime

scene marks on IDENT1. Any potential matches are viewed at the Fingerprint Bureau. If an identification is made a message is returned to the LiveScan unit requesting the

Fingerprint Bureau be contacted for more information.

Any further crimes identified while the detainee is still in custody could support the case for arrest / other offences to be taken into consideration (TICs) / charge / court

appearance / sentencing.

4.2.4 Immigration searches

A detainee’s fingerprints may only be searched against the fingerprint data held by the Home Office on the Immigration and Nationality Database (IND) if the officer has

reasonable grounds to suspect that the detainee is not a European Union national. The data held on the IND may assist in:

• the prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of a criminal offence

• the safeguarding of national security

• establishing the detainee’s true identity

• establishing if the detainee is suspected of entering or remaining within the United Kingdom under false documentation or without the correct

documentation.

Searches of the IND may be non-verified or verified as with Live-ID searches.

4.2.4.1 Non-verified immigration searches

• Fingerprints are searched automatically against the IND without being checked and confirmed at the Fingerprint Bureau. Results are returned to the LiveScan

unit in a message that includes an Immigration Fingerprint Bureau (IFB) reference number and a contact telephone number for the Immigration

A Print-to-Mark search must always be launched from the LiveScan unit

Launch an Immigration search when required.



Service’s Evidence and Enquiry Unit. The message may contain a reference number beginning with the letters “VI” – this will indicate that the detainee has

been fingerprinted abroad in connection with a visa application. “VIA” is for their first visa application and “VIB” for their second and so on.

Further information regarding the possible match of the detainee’s fingerprints with a set held on the IND may be provided by calling the telephone number provided and

quoting the IFB reference number (or VI reference when applicable). Further enquiries with the local Immigration Officer may still be necessary.

For enquiries out-of-hours (2100-0700 hours) the Immigration Service Region’s

Command and Controshould be contacted.

4.2.4.2 Verified immigration searches

Custody staff should be aware of their Fingerprint Bureau’s opening hours. Outside those hours force procedure for calling out fingerprint staff should be followed.

Failure to alert the Fingerprint Bureau to the verified immigration search may lead to

a delay in the result being returned to LiveScan.

For verified searches fingerprints are searched against the IND. Fingerprint Bureau

staff then view and compare the search results to confirm the identity as a known CRO record. The Fingerprint Bureau should contact custody by telephone to inform them the result of the immigration check. The message may contain a reference

number beginning with the letters “VI” – this will indicate that the detainee has been fingerprinted abroad in connection with a visa application. “VIA” is for their first visa

application, “VIB” for their second and so on.

Further information regarding the possible match of the detainee’s fingerprints with a set held on the IND may be provided by calling the telephone number provided and

quoting the IFB reference number (or VI reference when applicable). Further enquiries with the local Immigration Officer may still be necessary.

For enquiries out-of-hours (2100-0700 hours), the Immigration Service Region’s Command and Control should be contacted.

4.3 LiveScan ten-print transmissions

Once the result of the Live-ID has been returned and the detainee’s identity has been established or confirmed, the LiveScan record must be re-visited and sent as a ten-print submission.

If the force has the NSPIS/LiveScan interface, the ten-prints are automatically submitted once the custody record is closed. Whether sent automatically or selected

manually, the fingerprints are transmitted to the Fingerprint Bureau. After processing by Fingerprint Bureau staff on IDENT1, an auto-delete message is sent back to the LiveScan unit, causing the fingerprint form and all associated messages to be deleted

from the unit.

Transmit all fingerprints to the Fingerprint Bureau as a ten-print

submission.



4.4 Forms taken for outside agencies or other police forces

There will be occasions where fingerprints are taken on behalf of another force or agency.

If the force taking the fingerprints has the NSPIS/LiveScan interface it should NOT be used in these circumstances and the fingerprint form should be manually created on LiveScan.

To send the fingerprint to the outside agency or other force area:

• an ASN must be obtained from the other force or agency

• the appropriate force or agency code should be selected from the drop-down list on the demographics screen on LiveScan

• the name of the other force or agency should be entered in the REMARKS field.

The images will be sent electronically to the force selected from the drop-down list when the ten-print submission is launched and the hardcopy of the form will print out

at their Fingerprint Bureau.

4.5 LiveScan search responses

The results of non-verified searches are generally returned to LiveScan by IDENT1

within five minutes of the search being launched.

Verified responses are dependent on Fingerprint Bureau opening hours. Users should

contact their Fingerprint Bureau to alert them when verified Live-ID and verified immigration searches have been sent.

It is important that users check LiveScan’s Record Centre to ensure that transmissions have been successfully sent. Where error messages are returned, problems must be rectified and searches re-transmitted. Where search results are returned appropriate

action must be taken.

Refer to the LiveScan EC3 User Guide for further details about messages.

4.6 Detainees who answer bail

A person who has been fingerprinted in relation to an offence prior to being bailed

should not be fingerprinted again for that offence unless there is doubt about their identity.

Custody Officers will confirm that the person who returns to the police station in answer to their bail is the person who was originally bailed. If there is doubt regarding the identity, an Inspector can give authority for fingerprints to be retaken under

section 61(4A) & (4B) PACE.

Allow adequate time for responses to be returned to the LiveScan unit.

Check search responses on the LiveScan and act accordingly.



4.7 Sex Offenders Register

Subject to force policy, LiveScan can be used to capture the fingerprints and thereby prove the identity of registered sex offenders taking up residence in the force area.

The remarks field on the demographic screen should be completed to indicate that the fingerprints were taken for this purpose. The record should be sent for a non-verified Live-ID and then as a ten-print submission. Such a form will not be subject to the

auto-delete process on LiveScan and should be deleted only after consultation with the Fingerprint Bureau.

4.8 Custody Management

4.8.1 The Custody Manager

The Custody Manager is responsible for the overall management of the LiveScan unit including custody strategy and unit accountability.

The Custody Manager should:

• have an awareness of the functionality of the system and force policy in relation

to its use

• maintain liaison with the force LiveScan Managers and support them in improving fingerprint quality as part of an escalation process

• use trained custody staff as LiveScan Unit Managers to manage the LiveScan unit and allocate time for them to do so

• ensure that members of contract staff have received adequate training prior to using LiveScan and that fingerprint quality is included in the contract.

4.8.2 The Custody Officer

The Custody Officer is responsible for the day-to-day management of the custody

environment and all associated processes. Custody Officers will need an awareness of the overall functionality of the system in order to oversee its use. They should ensure

that:

• detainees are fingerprinted in accordance with PACE and other relevant legislation

• detainees are fingerprinted as early as possible during their detention in custody

• detainees are not fingerprinted if they are violent, injured, drunk, obstructive or otherwise unable to provide a set of fingerprints of acceptable standard, and that once such detainees become fit that they are fingerprinted without any

further unnecessary delay

• sufficient time is allowed for staff under their direction to complete their

LiveScan activities and responsibilities

The Custody Manager should have overall responsibility for the monitoring

and management of LiveScan use.



• the correct LiveScan searches are completed in accordance with force policy

• LiveScan search results are recorded on the detainee’s custody record and

acted upon as necessary.

4.9 LiveScan Unit management

Each LiveScan unit should have sufficient Unit Managers to enable effective management of the unit. Nominated staff should be LiveScan users or Custody

Officers who are keen and competent. They will be trained either by a force LiveScan Manager or designated LiveScan Trainer.

The team of LiveScan Unit Managers is responsible for ensuring that all LiveScan

searches and transmissions have been undertaken in line with force policy. They will be supported by the force LiveScan Managers and designated Fingerprint Bureau staff.

Unit Managers have a higher level of access on LiveScan which enables them to delete records, set up user accounts, change passwords, undertake systems tests and

perform a complete system shutdown.

Management of each LiveScan unit will include:

• checking that searches have been sent appropriately

• correcting user errors

• completing demographic data where necessary and transmitting forms

• resolving issues resulting from system downtime

• deleting forms when so directed by the Fingerprint Bureau

• identifying users who fail to fully comply with LiveScan processes and taking

corrective measures

• maintaining stocks of consumables.

A document explaining the different types of message and the resulting action that may need to be taken is attached at Appendix 2 – LiveScan message guidance.

Nominate suitable custody staff to undertake management of each

LiveScan unit. These should be LiveScan Users or Custody Officers.



Figure 1 LiveScan – Custody Good Practice



Section five

Fingerprint Bureau

5.1 Fingerprint Bureau activities

5.2 Fingerprint quality

5.3 Supporting the LiveScan process within custody



5 Fingerprint Bureau

It is essential that the Fingerprint Bureau works closely with custody to ensure that the benefits of LiveScan are maximised.

There will be frequent contact between both departments to progress LiveScan matters and it is imperative that staff working in the Fingerprint Bureau and custody have an awareness of each other’s working environments to enable effective

communication.

This chapter sets out good practice for the Fingerprint Bureau process. Roles and

responsibilities of fingerprint staff are summarised Appendix 1 – LiveScan roles and responsibilities.

5.1 Fingerprint Bureau activities

A process chart is provided at the end of this chapter in Figure 2 LiveScan –

Fingerprint Bureau good practice.

During Fingerprint Bureau working hours priority should be given to undertaking

verified Live-ID searches launched from custody because the correct and prompt identification of a detainee is of paramount importance to custody staff. Consideration

should be given to contacting custody with the result over the telephone.

During Fingerprint Bureau working hours priority should be given to completing Print-

to-Mark searches launched from custody before all other searches other than verified Live-ID. Undertaking Print-to-Mark work at the earliest opportunity will optimise the chances of completing any identification prior to detainees leaving custody. Once

identification is confirmed, provisions must be in place for liaison between the Fingerprint Bureau, Custody and police officers to ensure effective detainee

processing.

When a Print-to-Mark search results in an identification for another force they should

be given all details available, appropriate points of contact and information as to whether the detainee is still in custody.

During Fingerprint Bureau working hours, priority should be given to undertaking verified immigration searches launched from custody. Consideration should be given

to contacting Custody with the result over the telephone.

Conduct verified Live-ID searches as a priority over other searches

launched from custody.

Prioritise Print-to-Mark searches over other searches launched from

custody other than requests for verified Live-ID searches.

Complete verified immigration searches as required but not before

requests for a verified Live-ID search or a Print-to-Mark search.



Fingerprint Bureau staff should aim to process ten-print submissions within 24 hours

of receipt.

IDENT1 should be updated with the latest submissions of fingerprints at the earliest opportunity thereby making them available for comparison against searches launched

by forces nationwide.

When detainees are fingerprinted on LiveScan for other forces or agencies processes

should be devised and used for successful onward transmission of the fingerprints. Fingerprint forms received electronically from other forces should also be processed appropriately.

It is imperative that the best quality fingerprints available are part of the master set

held on IDENT1. Changeovers must be undertaken whenever better quality images are received.

When fingerprint forms are forwarded for comparison against specified crime scene

marks correct procedures should be devised and adhered to for completion of the comparison work.

Such ‘suspect’ comparisons should be prioritised where the detainee is still in custody.

5.2 Fingerprint quality

Producing good quality fingerprints on LiveScan is central to maximising the benefits

of LiveScan and IDENT1.

Staff at the Fingerprint Bureau should assess and record the quality of the fingerprints received from the LiveScan units against the standards outlined in the DAPSS

fingerprint quality codes.

Reports on fingerprint quality should be generated and forwarded to individual

practitioners and Custody Managers. The frequency of such reports is to be determined by the force.

Where problems with quality persist, a previously agreed escalation process should be

instigated.

5.3 Supporting the LiveScan process within custody

Process ten-print verification within 24 hours of receipt.

Ensure changeovers are completed promptly.

Ensure all fingerprint forms are dealt with appropriately.

Monitor the quality of fingerprints received at the Fingerprint Bureau using

the DAPSS fingerprint quality codes.

Support the use of LiveScan in custody.



Fingerprint Bureau staff will need sufficient knowledge to support the use of LiveScan

within custody.

Fingerprint Bureau staff may be called about a variety of LiveScan related queries

including:

• advising on appropriate form transmission types

• advising on the taking of fingerprints in circumstances beyond the conventional fingerprinting of a detainee, e.g. forms taken for vetting purposes

• advising on system performance, e.g. slowness

• advising on consumables

• answering technical questions regarding the taking of fingerprints

• advising on hardware problems

• setting up of user accounts and change passwords on request.

Consideration should be given to assign fingerprint staff responsibility for individual

custody units. This will promote good working relationships between Custody and the Fingerprint Bureau.



Figure 2 LiveScan – Fingerprint Bureau Good Practice



Section six

Communication

6.1 User groups

6.2 Communication tools



6 Communication

Communication is essential to any effective business process using a variety of forums and media depending on the target audience. Effective communication develops and

disseminates good practice.

6.1 User groups

Significant benefits can be achieved following the establishment of a LiveScan user group. Such a group may be part of a wider force custody user group. Members of

the LiveScan user group should include those personnel who are in a position to implement good practice across the force:

• Chief Inspector, custody

• Head of Fingerprint Bureau

• Force LiveScan Manager (custody)

• Force LiveScan Manager (fingerprints)

• Custody Inspectors

• Custody Officers

• User representatives

• Fingerprint staff

• Unit Managers.

LiveScan performance issues need to be raised at meetings of the force custody user

group and Scientific Support Unit to ensure that good practice is shared and complied with.

Force LiveScan Managers should represent the force at the regional IDENT1/LiveScan

meetings. Each ACPO region is represented by one member of staff from custody and one from the Fingerprint Bureau at the National LiveScan User Group (NLUG). The NLUG meets regularly to discuss LiveScan issues, concerns, performance and to raise

any suggested improvements to the system.

6.2 Communication tools

Different methods should be employed for communicating with users, force

management and all other force staff.

Establish a force LiveScan user group.

Force LiveScan Managers should represent the force at the regional

IDENT1 and LiveScan meetings to share and develop good practice.

Include LiveScan information on the force intranet site.



A force intranet site is accessible to all force staff and can be developed into a comprehensive central resource.

Ideas for inclusion:

• general information - what is LiveScan, how it works and details about its

searching capabilities

• help – unit management, templates of forms, legislation to take fingerprints,

advice on techniques with photographic illustrations, useful contacts including the IDENT1/LiveScan Service Desk, Fingerprint Bureau opening hours, FAQs and guidelines for IND searches

• statistics – quality performance data

• news – good news stories, Print-to-Mark hits, LiveScan developments and good

performance figures.

Positive feedback is an excellent management tool and encourages users to employ good practice by showing them the benefits of LiveScan.

Circulating good news stories helps to maintain awareness of LiveScan’s contribution to the force. These can include:

• case histories where LiveScan has made a real difference to an investigation or

to show how a detainee was managed

• informing users when an identification has resulted from a Print-to-Mark search

• summaries of Print-to-Mark hits being sent to command levels

• hits being displayed at custody units showing the offence(s) identified.

Consider the use of posters to publicise LiveScan.

These may:

• be instructional on how to operate LiveScan and how to take the best quality

fingerprints

• be aimed at detainees warning them that their fingerprints will be checked against crime scene marks and encouraging them to clear up any other

outstanding crimes they have committed

• give information on performance and be displayed in custody, the Fingerprint

Bureau and around the force at relevant sites.

These visits will:

• encourage better working relationships

Publicise good news stories and circulate them to all users and command

levels.

Use promotional and instructional posters where appropriate.

Provide structured visits to the Fingerprint Bureau for operational users and encourage Fingerprint Bureau staff to visit custody to foster good

working relationships between the two departments.



• enable staff to gain a better understanding of each other’s working environment

• motivate users to take better fingerprints

• give fingerprint staff an appreciation of the pressures in custody.



Section seven

Summary

of the top tips



7 Summary of the top tips The following is a summary of the top tips in order of appearance throughout this

good practice guide.

Management

Maintain the Gold, Silver and Bronze chain of command for LiveScan business to escalate and expedite the resolution of any issues.

• Appoint force LiveScan Managers – one from custody and one from the

Fingerprint Bureau.

• Monitor the number of fingerprints held on each LiveScan unit.

• Monitor the number of fingerprint forms received versus the number of detainees arrested for a recordable offence.

• Monitor compliance with force policies on LiveScan searches.

• Use dedicated staff to operate LiveScan.

• Nominate suitable custody staff to undertake routine management of the

LiveScan unit.

• Be aware of additional considerations when using contract staff within custody.

Training

• Train dedicated LiveScan users.

• Train a small team of LiveScan Unit Managers at each custody suite.

• Train fingerprint staff.

• Provide awareness training on the functionality and capability of LiveScan for

Custody and Fingerprint Managers.

• Provide awareness training for all other relevant force staff.

• Encourage Fingerprint Bureau staff to attend LiveScan training courses as

observers.

• Use classrooms or another suitable environment for the delivery of LiveScan

and DAPSS training.

• Do not use cascade training.

• Consider including a visit to the Fingerprint Bureau as part of user training.



Custody

• Fingerprint detainee as soon as is practicable.

• Every detainee arrested for a recordable offence should have their fingerprints captured as soon as their detention has been authorised to comply with the

Criminal Justice Act (CJA) 2003. Exceptions to this are detainees who are violent or otherwise unfit to be fingerprinted or juveniles awaiting the arrival of

an appropriate adult. In these cases fingerprints should be captured as soon as possible to enable sufficient time for searches to be completed.

• The mandatory demographic details on LiveScan must be fully completed.

• Obtain an Arrest/Summons Number (ASN) as soon as possible after authorisation of detention.

• Always take the best possible quality fingerprint impressions.

• Every set of fingerprints taken on LiveScan must be sent for a non-verified Live-ID search.

• Read the Live-ID search result as soon as possible after receipt. Typically, a result message will be received within five minutes of launching the search.

Check search responses against the PNC CRO number and act promptly to confirm the detainee’s identity where there is a mismatch. Always record the result on the detainee’s custody record.

• Send a verified Live-ID search when the detainee’s identity is in doubt.

• If you find it necessary to carry out a verified Live-ID search, call the

Fingerprint Bureau first. If it is outside bureau hours, follow force procedures for call-out.

• A Print-to-Mark search must always be launched from the LiveScan unit.

• Launch an Immigration Search when required.

• Transmit all fingerprints to the Fingerprint Bureau as a ten-print submission.

• Allow adequate time for responses to be returned to the LiveScan unit.

• Check search responses on the LiveScan and act accordingly.

• The Custody Manager should have overall responsibility for the monitoring and

management of LiveScan use.

• Nominate suitable custody staff to undertake management of each LiveScan

unit. These should be LiveScan Users or Custody Officers.

Fingerprint Bureau

• Conduct verified Live-ID searches as a priority over other searches launched

from custody.

• Prioritise Print-to-Mark searches over other searches launched from custody

other than requests for verified Live-ID searches.

• Complete verified immigration searches as required but not before requests for a verified Live-ID search or a Print-to-Mark search.

• Process ten-print verification within 24 hours of receipt.

• Ensure changeovers are completed promptly.

• Ensure all fingerprint forms are dealt with appropriately.



• Monitor the quality of fingerprints received at the Fingerprint Bureau using the DAPSS fingerprint quality codes.

• Support the use of LiveScan in custody.

Communications

• Establish a Force LiveScan User Group.

• Force LiveScan Managers should represent the force at the Regional IDENT1

and LiveScan meetings to share and develop good practice.

• Include a LiveScan section within the areas for Custody and Scientific Support on the main force intranet site.

• Publicise good news stories and circulate them to all users and command levels.

• Use promotional and instructional posters where appropriate.

• Provide structured visits to the Fingerprint Bureau for operational users and encourage Fingerprint Bureau staff to visit custody to foster good working relationships between the two departments.



8 Glossary ACK

Acknowledgement (LiveScan message).

ACPO

Association of Chief Police Officers.

ASN Arrest/Summons Number allocated by

local force systems for entry to PNC of arrest / summons recordable offence

for the detainee.

BCU Basic Command Unit.

CRO Criminal Records Office.

ERR Error (LiveScan message).

IDENT1

The strategic Identification Service in use across England, Wales and

Scotland. IDENT1 holds the electronic (digital) National Fingerprint Collection.

This service replaced NAFIS on 1 April 2005.

IND

Immigration and Nationality Database.

PHOENIX

Police Home Office Enhanced Name Index (an upgraded version of the PNC).

PNC Police National Computer.

PND

Penalty Notice for Disorder.

PSD

PHOENIX Source Document.

SCC Serious Crimes Cache.

SRE Search Result (LiveScan message).

SSM Scientific Support Manager.

SYS

System Message (LiveScan message).

Ten-print

All ten fingerprints and palm prints of both hands captured electronically using LiveScan or on a special police

form using ‘ink and roller’.



Appendices

1 LiveScan roles and responsibilities

2 LiveScan message guidance

3 Other relevant legislation

4 LiveScan training summary



Appendix 1 – LiveScan roles and responsibilities The Command Chain

Gold Command (ACPO Lead) - in consultation with Silver and Bronze.

• Identifying a Custody LiveScan Manager (Bronze Custody) and a Fingerprint Bureau LiveScan Manager (Bronze Fingerprint Bureau).

• Ensuring that the powers to take a detainee’s fingerprints are strictly adhered to i.e.


o and any person under arrest for a matter other than a recordable offence

is not fingerprinted unless they have given their written consent.

• Determining force policy and accountability with regard to Live-ID, Print-to-

Mark (P-M) and Immigration searching from LiveScan. Best practice guidelines are to:




• Determining force policy and accountability in relation to Fingerprint Bureau

call-out and resourcing as appropriate.

• Determining force procedures and accountability for dealing with Print-to-Mark

hits while the detainee is still in custody.

• Training policies.

Silver Command (Head of Custody and Scientific Support Manager) - in

consultation with Gold and Bronze.

• Identifying a Custody LiveScan Manager (Bronze Custody) and a Fingerprint

Bureau LiveScan Manager (Bronze Fingerprint Bureau).

• Ensuring that the powers to take a detainee’s fingerprints are strictly adhered to i.e.



• Determining force policy and accountability with regard to Live-ID, Print-to-

Mark (P-M) and Immigration searching from LiveScan. Best practice guidelines are to:






• Determining force policy and accountability in relation to Fingerprint Bureau call-out and resourcing as appropriate.

• Determining force procedures and accountability for dealing with Print-to-Mark hits while the detainee is still in custody.

• Training policies.

Bronze Command (Force LiveScan Managers) - in consultation with Gold and Silver.

• LiveScan training including:

o initial training for new users

o refresher training

o LiveScan Unit Manager training.

o awareness training for Custody Officers and Custody Managers.

o awareness training and quality assessment (including the DAPSS quality codes) training for fingerprint staff involved in the QA process.

• DAPSS training - this should be delivered to all new personnel, and considered

for existing staff where appropriate.

• Awareness sessions for Inspectors, Chief Inspectors/Superintendents who need

an overall appreciation and understanding of LiveScan’s functionality and capabilities.

• Informing custody staff of the requirements to capture fingerprints in

accordance with relevant legislation, checking for compliance and escalating issues where necessary.

• Implementation of force policy in relation to searches sent from LiveScan (Live-ID, Print-to-Mark, Immigration) determined by the command chain.

• Supporting the LiveScan Unit Managers at each custody suite.

• The overall management of Fingerprint Bureau functions relating to LiveScan.

• Supporting staff in the Fingerprint Bureau.

• Production of LiveScan quality and performance statistics on an individual, divisional and force basis using the DAPSS methodology.

• Providing feedback on fingerprint quality to users based on the DAPSS

fingerprint quality codes.

• Appraising manag

Date post:	19-Oct-2020
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LiveScan Good Practice Guide Final · this revised LiveScan Best Practice Manual, now known as the...

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