Swedish Police and FBI Launch Direct Fingerprint Data Sharing to Boost Crime Fighting

Swedish police and the FBI have initiated a new collaboration allowing direct and faster fingerprint data sharing between their respective databases, significantly improving international law enforcement cooperation. Previously, fingerprint comparisons between the two countries were conducted solely through Interpol, which could slow down the investigative process. Jonas Hemmar, head of the Swedish police's international unit, highlighted the extensive potential this new exchange offers to both nations' crime fighting capabilities.

The new system introduces a search function enabling Swedish police to quickly access and compare fingerprints with those held by the FBI, and vice versa. However, Swedish legal requirements stipulate that the crime related to the fingerprint searching must carry at least a one-year prison sentence. Additionally, data sharing is strictly regulated by national laws in Sweden and the United States, with all transfers of Swedish personal data to the U.S. requiring prior approval from the Swedish Police Authority.

This collaboration exemplifies streamlined procedures and faster access to crucial forensic data, providing law enforcement agencies with improved tools to solve crimes more efficiently.

Jonas Hemmar described the development as containing "significant potential" for enhancing crime investigations through seamless cooperation between the Swedish police and FBI, leveraging the extensive fingerprint databases of both countries to bolster public safety efforts.