New Zealand committed to biometric data sharing after first year success

Wellington (New Zealand), May 15 (Xinhua-ANI): New Zealand immigration authorities Tuesday said they are committed to an international biometric checking system that had proved successful in checking cross-border crime after its first year of operation.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) said its officers had checked the records of about 440 people using the international fingerprint checking system linked to a biometric information base.

Of that number, 101 matches were received, including people who were matched by more than one country, and 37 matches provided vital identity fraud information, concealed criminal history or immigration fraud intelligence, said a statement from INZ.

The system is managed by the Five Country Conference (FCC), which is made up of the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada.

"International data sharing on identity and criminality with trusted partners is the way of the future. It improves the integrity of the immigration system, speeds up decision making and strengthens the security of our border," INZ identity program manager Arron Baker said in the statement.

"We need to maintain parity with our partner's immigration and border security systems to keep New Zealand safe in a world where risks are constantly changing."

Each case of immigration fraud had the potential to cost New Zealand an estimated 30,000 NZ dollars (23,357 U.S. dollars), and in many cases much more, he said.

The FCC partnership allowed INZ to use resources more effectively and reduce downstream costs, such as long and complex case investigations and welfare fraud by people attempting to exploit the immigration system.

While the system was based on the free flow of information between the five countries, strong privacy and data security protections were built into every step of the process, he said.

The new Immigration Global Management System (IGMS) would see further improvements to INZ's identity management systems, enabling real-time biometric checks internationally as well as introducing face biometrics and biometric alert-lists.

The government is investing 75 million NZ dollars in the IGMS, which will allow more visas to be applied for online. It will be introduced from next year and completed by 2015. (Xinhua-ANI)