Scotland to be world's first country to have code on biometric data in policing

The code will now be brought before Holyrood ministers on September 7 and, if approved, will be brought into effect around November 16

SCOTLAND is set to become the world’s first country to have a statutory code of practice on the use of biometric data for policing and criminal justice. 

Currently, there is no general independent oversight of how biometric data and technologies are being used in Scottish prisons specifically. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) looks at issues of data protection more broadly, while the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office oversees “covert surveillance”.