Newsletter No.13 December 2025
Welcome to the December 2025 newsletter for the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner
Since our last newsletter I have laid our 2024/25 Annual Report and Accounts and the first statutory review of our Code of Practice. I have also laid our 2025/29 Strategic Plan, and I have started working on our next joint assurance review on Fingerprints.
Dr Brian Plastow
Scottish Biometrics Commissioner
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The Commissioner has welcomed a new seconded member of staff to the team.
Subject Matter Expert, Karen McBride has joined the team from SPA Forensic Services.
Karen is a qualified Senior Fingerprint Examiner with 31 years experience in analysis,
comparison and evaluation of fingerprints.
On 15 and 16 October, the Commissioner and Director attended the Biometrics Institute Congress in London
The Commissioner spoke at the event. The title of his speech was ‘Blurred Lines: The evidence-versus-intelligence paradigm in police biometrics’
The Director also spoke at a side event on the second day of the Congress
On the 20 November the Commissioner delivered The Information Law and Policy Centre (ILPC) annual Institute of Advanced Legal Studies lecture, in London
The theme of the Commissioner’s lecture was ‘Biometrics and policing: The benefits and risk of AI for law enforcement and criminal justice’
Our fourth Annual Reports and Accounts (ARA) was published in October. The report highlights the two thematic reviews we have laid - DNA and Retrospective Facial Search, we have also laid a joint report with the Scottish Government, a review into the Laws of Retention. For the fourth year in a row the SBC have operated within budget. A copy of the 2024/25 ARA can be accessed by clicking on the picture below
Under Section 14 of the SBC Act 2020
the Commissioner laid the first Statutory
Review of the Code of Practice on 22 October 2025
The review outlines the achievements of
the SBC since their inception and confirms
the current Code of Practice is fit for purpose
and continues to have legal effect
During 2026 we will be conducting a full review
of the Code of Practice
The Commissioner has published the second Strategic Plan of his tenure. 
The Strategic plan covers 2025 to 2029 and outlines out strategic objectives and priorities over the next four years.
The plan also highlights our proposed thematic reviews:
Year 1 – Fingerprints
Year 2 – Forensic imaging
Year 3 – Biometric data (images and voice)
Year 4 – Body worn cameras
On the 27 November the Commissioner and Director attended the SPA Board meeting to present our new Strategic Plan
During the meeting the Chief Constable stated she would welcome any extension of the Commissioner’s function to include public safety cameras in Scotland
The full meeting can be found here.
The Commissioner and Director’s session can be found here
Out and About
Since our last newsletter the Commissioner has attended a variety of meetings and delivered a range of presentations - some are listed below:
7 August 2025: Attended the SPA Forensic Services Committee meeting
16 October: Speaker at The Biometrics Institute Congress in London
11 November: At Gartcosh with SME for fingerprint fieldwork
14 November: At SPA forensic lab in Dundee with SME for fingerprint fieldwork
4 December: Attended Police Scotland Biometrics Oversight Board
The Commissioner has also attended monthly catch up with Police Scotland and has met with the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body
The Director has been busy and has attended meetings and events – as listed below:
18 September: Attended FINDS Strategy Board
19 September: Attended Forensic Services Excellence Awards
16 October: Spoke at a side event at The Biometrics Institute Congress
9 December: Attended SPA Policing Performance Committee