News
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Views on our draft Strategic Plan for 2025 to 2029
The Commissioner is seeking views on our next Strategic Plan which will run from November 2025 to November 2029. -
Workshop Reflections: Strategic Planning and Code of Practice Workshop empowering voices
On July 10, 2025, the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner hosted an engaging and thoughtful workshop with a group of vulnerable adults and team members of COSLA and SOLD network (a partnership between People First Scotland and the Association for Real Change... -
Quarterly Newsletter No12. June 2025
Welcome to the June 2025 newsletter for the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Since our last newsletter I have laid two assurance reports this year. The subject of the reports are DNA and Retrospective Facial Search. -
Commissioner welcomes appointment of an interim Biometrics Commissioner for England and Wales
The Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Dr Brian Plastow has today welcomed the appointment of Francesca Whitelaw KC as the interim Biometrics Commissioner for England and Wales. The role of the Biometrics Commissioner for England and Wales has been vacant since August... -
Commissioner delivered ASPS Jack Urquhart Memorial Lecture
On 21 May the Commissioner delivered the twenty third Jack Urquhart Memorial Lecture at the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents Annual Conference. -
Commissioner's blog on Live Facial Recognition
In this short blog, I set out the reasons why I would support the future use of live facial recognition by Police Scotland primarily to protect women, girls, and children from male violence and additionally for other proportionate law enforcement... -
The role of facial recognition in modern policing
Our Operation Manager Diego Quiroz has written a piece for the 1919 magazine. The article is based on the recent SBC retrospective image search report , which shines a spotlight on the ethical, legal, and societal challenges of using modern... -
Commissioner welcomes the appointment of Fiona McQueen CBE as Chair of Scottish Police Authority
Commissioner welcomes the appointment of Fiona McQueen CBE as Chair of Scottish Police Authority -
Public attitudes to police use of biometrics data
Public attitudes to police use of biometric data Our key findings and the original data from Scottish Police Authority -
The SBC Commissioner gives evidence at the NI Assembly Committee for Justice
The SBC Commissioner was invited to give evidence to the NI Committee for Justice in relation to the NI Justice Bill 2024 which will introduce a new biometrics retention regime for the PSNI and the appointment of a Biometrics Commissioner... -
Commissioner writes to University of Dundee
The Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Dr Brian Plastow has today written to the Principal of the University of Dundee raising concerns about the potential closure of the world-leading Leverhulme Institute of Forensic Science. -
Scottish Biometrics Commissioner attends SPCB Supported Bodies Landscape Review Committee
On 20 February the Commissioner gave evidence to the SPCB Supported Bodies Landscape Review Committee. The Commissioner attended the Parliament to answer questions following an earlier written submission provided in January.