Automated data exchange with regard to dactyloscopic data in the United Kingdom

On the basis of the report by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, the European Parliament rejected the draft Council implementing decision concerning the introduction of automated data exchange in relation to fingerprint data in the United Kingdom (329 votes to 357, with 4 abstentions).

By this draft implementing decision, the Council intends to allow the United Kingdom to participate in the automated searching of dactyloscopic data and to proceed to the supply and reception of dactyloscopic data pursuant to the system laid down in Article 9 of Prüm Decision (Council Decision 2008/615/JHA).

The Prüm Decision provides for the exchange of information between the Member States’ authorities responsible for the prevention and investigation of criminal offences. To this purpose, the competent authorities may exchange dactyloscopic data processed in their national automated fingerprint identification systems established for the prevention and investigation of criminal offences. Article 9 of Prüm Decision provides for a competent authority of a Member State to carry out automated searching of dactyloscopic data in the national system of another Member State. The supply of personal data provided for under this Decision may not take place until the Council has decided that a Member State wishing to take part in this exchange has implemented in its national law the general provisions on data protection set out in the Prüm Decision.

In the explanatory statement accompanying the parliamentary report, the rapporteur advised Parliament to reject the Council draft implementing decision and requested the Council not to adopt its draft implementing decision and not to take any decision in this regard until guarantees from the UK as regards full reciprocity and data protection are obtained and the new legal framework for the new partnership cooperation with the United Kingdom is negotiated and concluded.