Fingerprint Scan at Heathrow for UK Citizen

[bablaab]

I was returning from holiday with my family and because i have a child I couldn’t use egate and went to a manned border control gate at Heathrow. Both me and wife were asked to provide thumb fingerprint even though we are uk citizens. I an not able to recall if i was ever asked for thumb fingerprint check after i became citizen. Is this something new recently introduced for uk citizen? Did anyone experience this recently?

[alterhase58]

Not aware this was done here although not surprised they have the capability. Did they give an explanation as to why finger prints were required?
Was that at the check point or were you taken to their backroom? Were you questioned about specific topics? What did they tell you after you gave the prints? Border Force officials seem to be a law unto themselves ....

[bablaab]

At the checkpoint. I didn’t bother asking anything but later I checked that all uk citizens biometric data are not retained hence was not sure why border post officer requested thumb fingerprint scan.

[vinny]

If they had deleted existing immigration records of your fingerprints since you became British, then what are they comparing your thumbprint to?

[bablaab]

That’s why I was confused and hence thought of asking if others had similar experience