DCMS Consultation on Biometric Data and Surveillance Reform
Summary
DCMS launched a consultation on reforms to the UK data protection regime. The consultation proposes legislative changes to streamline police collection, use, and retention of biometric data, and suggests merging the Biometrics Commissioner and Surveillance Camera Commissioner functions under the Information Commissioner's Office for simplified oversight.
What changed
The consultation proposes streamlining police use of biometric data through legislative changes and consolidating oversight by absorbing Biometrics Commissioner and Surveillance Camera Commissioner functions under the Information Commissioner's Office.
Affected parties including law enforcement agencies, civil liberties groups, and data protection advocates should monitor this consultation and consider submitting responses on the proposed changes to oversight structures and biometric data rules for policing.
What to do next
- Submit responses to the DCMS data reform consultation
- Engage with stakeholders during the consultation period
- Monitor for updates on proposed oversight framework changes
Archived snapshot
Apr 15, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
News story
DCMS data reform consultation
Consultation proposals relating to the Office of the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner.
From: Surveillance Camera Commissioner and Biometrics Commissioner Published 3 October 2021
On 10 September, DCMS launched a consultation on reforms to the UK’s data protection regime.
As part of this, the consultation outlines that the government is considering legislative changes to streamline and clarify rules on police collection, use and retention of biometric data in order to improve transparency and public safety.
The consultation document also seeks views on simplifying the oversight framework for the police’s use of biometrics and overt surveillance, proposing that the functions of the Biometrics Commissioner and the Surveillance Camera Commissioner should be absorbed under a single oversight function exercised by the Information Commissioner’s Office.
The Commissioner and his office would like to encourage responses from a wide range of stakeholders to these issues raised within the DCMS data reform consultation which are principally matters for policing and law enforcement. We would likewise be very happy to discuss these issues with our stakeholders over the course of the consultation period.
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Published 3 October 2021
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