Biometric records

[Ged]

Thanks for reading;
Recently I returned from our summer holidays with my wife using our indefinete leave to remain biometric cards for the first time. As you can imagine our fingerprints were scanned and we were let in afterwards.
The lady from the border force was very polite but I find the whole fingerprint reading experience very humiliating. Recording our fingerprints like criminals does not feel right.
My question is if we can get our biometric records deleted after getting our British Citizenship? Is there procedure which allows it?
Any help appreciated.
Regards
Ged

[neoseal]

A very valid point, however once you have British Passport you will not need to use your ILR card. There is some EU regulation regarding finger print retention and have to be deleted after certain number of years. A long time back I read in newspaper that there is also a procedure where you can get court order to get your finger print deleted. But if you are not criminal or not intending to involve in any such activity, you don't need to worry.

Have a read here

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/10/h ... cs-privacy

[Ged]

Thanks neoseal,
This looks like a very helpful answer,
Regards,
Ged

[Amber]

As far as I am aware the destruction of fingerprints and DNA profiles under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 relates to those retained under criminal investigation. I don't think there is any current system to delete the biometric data the Home Office retain.

I suggest you make a request to the Home Office for the biometric data to be deleted and see what the response is, let us all know as I will follow this keenly.

[Ged]

Yes the data on the internet talks about spent convictions or released criminals, rather than immigrants. When I get my passport I will make the attempt to get this information deleted. This really bothers me a lot.

In the meantime if anyone tries something similar, please write it here. It would be interesting for us all.

[neoseal]

Here is an excerpt from immigration chapter 24 fingerprint guide.

"24.7 Destruction of fingerprints
Section 143 of the 1999 Act (as amended) requires that if they have not already
been destroyed (see below), fingerprints must be destroyed before the end of 10
years beginning with the day on which they were taken.
If it is proved that an individual is a British citizen or a Commonwealth citizen who
has the right of abode in the UK as a result of section 2(1)(b) of the 1971 Act,
fingerprints must be destroyed as soon as reasonably practicable.
Fingerprints taken from a dependant must be destroyed when fingerprints taken
from the person whose dependant he is, have to be destroyed.
It is the responsibility of IFB to destroy fingerprint records within the specified time
period or upon notification."

Here's the link, there are other docs as well on ukba.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitec ... iew=Binary

[Amber]

"Reasonably practicable" is far too ambiguous I would make a request in writing for them to be deleted and get confirmation it has been done. Moreover, who is the onus on to prove that the person is question is British? The request should state that you have been naturalised and thus biometric data should be destroyed at once. The request should be made in writing to:

The Immigration Fingerprint Bureau (IFB),
5
th Floor, Lunar House,
40, Wellesley Road,
Croydon, CR9 2BY