Fingerprint trial wiped

Darwin Correctional Centre has aborted a trial to have all visitors fingerprinted – after just two days.

The NT Office of Information Commission is holding an inquiry into whether screening visitors, instead of asking for ID, was a breach of civil liberties.

Correctional Services NT director Jens Tolstrup conceded that forcing visitors to record their fingerprints was an invasion of privacy.

“We simply overlooked it – there are legal points we have to look through,” Mr Tolstrup said.

“We had a complaint then we said ‘let’s look into it’ – we didn’t think it was a big deal.

“As far as I know we haven’t rejected any visitors but we’re not sure on that.”

Prison visitor Wolfgang Grimm said he contacted Amnesty International after he was fingerprinted and photographed on Monday when he went to see his nephew at the Berrimah prison.

The 64-year-old great-grandfather compared the jail’s screening procedures to East Germany’s old communist regime.

“I find it extremely offensive to get fingerprinted and photographed,” said Mr Grimm, a semi-retired mechanical engineer from Acacia Hills in Darwin’s rural area.

“I’ve never had a speeding ticket or fine.

“I’ve never taken drugs – black coffee in the morning, that’s the only drug I’m taking.”

Mr Tolstrup said the system was designed so visitors would not have to produce documents every time they visited.

Visitors can choose to give their fingerprints if they wish.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: 25th November 2004
Source: Northern Territory News
Author: Stephen Johnson
Email: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Url: http://www.ntnews.com.au
Copyright: 2004 Northern Territory News