The Belgian Police Department's Legal Identification Division has chosen Steria’s Benelux division to implement an innovative fingerprint identification system.

Steria will act as "prime contractor" to implement the system which is based on Cogent Systems' "Automated Palm Print and Fingerprint Identification System" (APFIS). Steria will implement the technology required for the capture and transmission of finger and palm prints and traces, and will also be in charge of all necessary integration services.

The new system will replace an earlier version which was installed 10 years ago. The new system will provide more precise results with a shorter response time and be prepared for future additional functionality. The system will also offer increased search precision, significantly improved response times and a palm print search option.

"For Steria, this is a strategic project in systems integration and security. Our expertise in biometric systems integration unquestionably played an essential role in the final phase of evaluation. This project illustrates our ability to offer our public- and private-sector customers innovative solutions delivered by our biometrics expertise centre," says Steria Benelux CEO René Luyckx.