West Yorkshire Police’s fingerprinting on the move

The application - which is supplied by Motorola Solutions - runs alongside the company’s already widely-deployed mobile information solution Pronto. The force is the first in the UK to implement the new biometrics product, which will allow officers to check fingerprints against the national database in real time, using handheld scanners attached to the user’s phone.

West Yorkshire digital policing lead chief inspector Ian Williams said: “Almost instantly after deployment we found how valuable rapid biometric identification can be. We have already been able to identify a seriously injured individual, enabling medical staff to quickly offer treatment and contact the family.

“In another case, we identified a disqualified driver, summonsed him to court and seized his vehicle on the scene. This is all without the need to travel to the station.”

Motorola Solutions’ Phil Jefferson said: “Biometrics is an exciting addition to the Pronto offering and demonstrates the type of advancements that will see the complete digital transformation of public safety agencies. West Yorkshire Police is at the forefront of this shift.”