Fraser Sampson Raises Concerns on Police Biometrics Oversight
Summary
Professor Fraser Sampson, the Independent Commissioner for Biometrics and Surveillance Cameras, submitted a formal response to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport consultation 'Data: a new direction'. He raised serious concerns about proposals to absorb oversight of police biometric and surveillance camera powers into the Information Commissioner's Office. The consultation questions regarding these transfers appear on page 142 of the 146-page document.
What changed
Professor Fraser Sampson, serving as Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner since February 2021, submitted a formal response to the DCMS 'Data: a new direction' consultation. His response raises concerns about government proposals to consolidate oversight of police biometric and surveillance camera powers within the ICO. The consultation document includes questions about absorbing the functions of both the Biometric Commissioner and Surveillance Camera Commissioner roles.
Affected parties including law enforcement agencies, civil liberties organizations, and surveillance technology providers should monitor this consultation process. The proposed transfer of oversight functions could significantly alter the regulatory landscape for police use of facial recognition, DNA databases, and surveillance camera systems in the UK.
What to do next
- Monitor for updates on government response to the Data: a new direction consultation
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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
Professor Fraser Sampson’s response to the DCMS consultation: Data: a new direction
A quarter of the way into my term of office we now have a once-in-this-generation opportunity to reform the police use of biometrics and surveillance, build public trust and provide assurance of ethical practice and leadership.
From: Surveillance Camera Commissioner and Biometrics Commissioner Published 2 November 2021
The Independent Commissioner for Biometrics and Surveillance Cameras has told the government of his serious concerns about its plans to absorb oversight of key police powers into the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
Fraser Sampson, the current Biometrics Commissioner and Surveillance Camera Commissioner, has delivered a forensic dissection of the proposal in his formal response to a Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport consultation called “Data: a new direction”. The questions about potentially absorbing the functions of the Biometric Commissioner role and the Surveillance Camera Commissioner role appear on page 142 of the 146-page document.
Professor Sampson, who was appointed Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner for two years starting in February 2021, said of the DCMS consultation: “I have now received a categorical assurance from ministers that the purpose of this consultation is to enable the proper formulation of as yet undecided policy in light of informed responses”.
Fraser Sampson’s complete formal response to the DCMS consultation.
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Published 2 November 2021
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