This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Fingerprint Action Plan
30/03/2006
Three international fingerprint experts have agreed to scrutinise and advise on the implementation of an action plan for the Scottish Fingerprint Service now being developed by Deputy Chief Constable David Mulhern, interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Police Services Authority.
The experts, announced today by Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson, will help ensure the service in Scotland is benchmarked against the best in the world and adopts best practice at all levels - from science and processes through to organisational culture. They will also help identify any further areas which need to be developed.
The Action Plan, including the views from the international experts, is expected to be delivered to Parliament in time for further scrutiny after the Easter recess fortnight - and will be implemented over the coming year.
The experts are:
- Bruce Grant, Head of Counter Terrorism Forensic Services, Metropolitan Police
- Arie Zeelenberg, Senior Advisor Fingerprints, Dutch National Police Force
- Danny Greathouse, Department of Homeland Security, USA
They will be assisted by a lawyer, Graham C. Bell QC, whose role will be to provide a legal perspective on the proposals in the plan.
As well as commenting on the action plan itself, all the experts will be expected to support and scrutinise its successful implementation during the coming year.
Ms Jamieson said:
"A huge amount has been done since September 2000 to transform the fingerprint service in Scotland. All the recommendations for improvement made by HMIC and ACPOS have been fully implemented and inspected. We now have a national fingerprint service operating to internationally recognised standards.
"However, as I told Parliament last month it's important that at home and abroad our fingerprint service is recognised as truly world class. That's why I instructed former Deputy Chief Constable David Mulhern to bring forward an action plan to develop the Scottish Fingerprint Service as an integrated part of the new Scottish Forensic Science Service. And why I pledged that in preparing this action plan, he would draw upon the best available scientific advice and expertise.
"These leading international fingerprint experts will make an important contribution to that process over the coming year - bringing knowledge and understanding of the best practice from round the world, helping to identify any areas for further development, and ensuring that the action plan ultimately delivers a Scottish Fingerprint Service that stands shoulder to shoulder with the very best. Scotland's justice system is an internationally respected one - and we must ensure that every part of that system operates to the very highest of standards.
"Work on the plan is already underway. I expect to deliver it to Parliament - with the input of these international experts - after the two-week Easter recess in time for further Parliamentary scrutiny. We will continue to keep Parliament fully informed of progress on its implementation throughout the year."
The Minister announced during her Parliamentary statement on the Shirley McKie case on February 23 that she had instructed Mr Mulhern to bring forward an action plan to develop the Scottish Fingerprint Service as an integrated part of the new Scottish Forensic Science Service from April 2007.
The Minister also pledged that in preparing his action plan Mr Mulhern would draw on the best available scientific advice and expertise in organisational development and human resource management.
Biographies
Bruce Grant, Head of Counter Terrorism Forensic Services with the Metropolitan Police.
He has almost 40 years' experience in fingerprints, is internationally renowned in the field and serves on the Interpol Fingerprint Experts Group. He recently assisted the FBI in a case involving the misidentification of a fingerprint connected with the Madrid Bombing case and has been involved in several major inquiries including Lockerbie, Stevens Inquiry in Northern Ireland, mortar attack on Downing Street, London Bombings of July 7, 2005 and attempted bombings of July 21, 2005.
Arie Zeelenberg, Senior Adviser Fingerprints with the Dutch National Police Force.
He has 34 years' experience in fingerprint examination and was head of Dutch National Fingerprint Department for 23 years. He is the permanent forensic expert to the High Court of Amsterdam, presenting and reviewing fingerprint evidence. He is the chair of the Interpol European Expert Group on fingerprint identification and in that capacity was co-author of the final report dealing with standards for fingerprint identification and best practice. He is also the chair of the Interpol Fingerprint Monitoring Expert Group (Global) dealing with all fingerprint matters.
Danny Greathouse, Department of Homeland Security, USA.
He has 42 years' experience, including nine years (1987 - 96) as Section Chief in the Latent Fingerprint Section of the FBI and Chief of the FBI Disaster Squad. He has been involved in several high profile investigations including the Oklahoma Bombing and the Waco Incident. From 1998 to present he has served as the manager of the Homeland Security Biometric Support Centre. He has also developed and improved the curriculum for the FBI Fingerprint School for Police Officers and is a guest lecturer at various worldwide conferences on topics including forensic management and disaster management.
Graham C. Bell QC has been an advocate since 1980, and took silk in 1991. He was a lecturer in criminal procedure at the University of Edinburgh from 1980 to 86 and Advocate-Depute from 1998 to 2000. He is a specialist in criminal law, employment law and reparation; a member of the Criminal Rules Council; and a former member of the Faculty Discipline Committee.