Under a new partnership agreement, Morpho (Safran) will provide INTERPOL with a range of innovative biometric solutions and other technical support to enhance global security, INTERPOL announced.

The partnership covers the supply of automated biometric identification systems to INTERPOL, provision of state-of-the-art security solutions for the future INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI), as well as collaboration on border security.

Under the five-year partnership, Morpho's facial recognition technology will also be provided to INTERPOL as an additional criminal identification tool.

The two organizations, along with other key partners, will also collaborate on developing global standards and best practices to improve border efficiency and security through the use of biometrics in order to tackle the challenge of increasing numbers of travelers and the related threats.

The fast-moving evolution in biometric technology meant that private sector expertise and support through partnerships such as with Morpho were essential, INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald Noble said.

"As criminals employ ever more sophisticated ways to avoid detection, so too must law enforcement benefit from the latest advances in technology, especially in biometrics, to more effectively combat all forms of transnational crime," Noble said.

"This is particularly true at borders, when officials have just moments to decide whether to allow a person into their country or not. It is vital that they have all the necessary tools at their fingertips to enable them to check whether this person is wanted internationally or has tried to conceal their identity," he added.

Since 1999, Morpho has provided INTERPOL with its Automated Fingerprint Biometric System (AFIS) that enables officers in member countries to conduct checks and identify internationally wanted persons via INTERPOL's global network. Under the partnership, this system will be replaced with Morpho's latest-generation AFIS that includes enhanced capabilities.