25 November 2009

Databases, surveillance and crime control

The role of databases in crime control is among the issues to be examined at a one-day conference taking place in Glasgow next month.

An expert panel of speakers from the UK and The Netherlands will gather at the Institute of Advanced Studies on Tuesday, December 8th to critically examine issues surrounding the use of databases in crime control and as a weapon in the war on terror.

The conference is being organised by the Institute for Advanced Studies and the Scottish Institute for Policing Research, a consortium of 13 Scottish Universities supported by investment from the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council.

SIPR Director Professor Nick Fyfe, who is based at the University of Dundee, explained how the use of databases amongst crime detection agencies has changed.

'The importance of databases in the prevention and detection of crime is now a routine part of contemporary discourses of crime control,' he said.

'This meeting will provide an opportunity to critically examine the use of DNA, financial records and passenger information in the fight against crime and in the European war on terror.'

Attendees at the event will include university researchers and invited delegates from the Scottish Government, Police Services, and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson MP recently announced proposals for the records of most unconvicted people arrested in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to be removed from the DNA database after six years.

With this in mind, the meeting will provide an opportunity to reflect on how the use of databases raises important legal and ethical questions about the surveillance of human populations. It will also look at the wider social and political implications of increasing concerns about security.

Notes to editors:

More information about the Institute for Advanced Studies can be found at www.instituteforadvancedstudies.org.uk).

The Scottish Institute for Policing Research can be found at www.sipr.ac.uk/. The organisation was established to conduct relevant, applicable research to help the police meet the challenges of the 21st century and for achieving international excellence for policing research in Scotland.

For further information, please contact Nick Fyfe (n.r.fyfe@dundee.ac.uk) or Tim Heilbronn (t.d.heilbronn@dundee.ac.uk).

We regret that due to the sensitive nature of some discussions, the media will not be able to attend this meeting.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277