The Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) has moved a step closer to protecting the identity of Jamaicans by implementing, for the first time in Jamaica, a facial recognition software akin to the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) currently in use by the police.

Before this facial identity software was commissioned in April of last year, facial recognition was done manually. The manual process of detecting passport violations, especially given the large increase in passport applications over the years, was archaic and a long and cumbersome one, which, more often than not, was highlighted by a low success rate of catching offenders.

Thus far the new facial recognition system has unearthed over 400 cases where people have obtained more than one Jamaican passport since its April 2016 implementation date. This compares with a yearly figure of approximately 20-25 when the task was done manually. In fact, since the system was set up, PICA has even found a case where one person had an alarming six passports on the system.

Acting head of PICA — which falls under the Ministry of National Security — Andrew Wynter explained how the new facial recognition system is applied.

“When people apply for passports, they have to submit photographs. We have a database populated by photographs of all previous passport applicants. These applicants have to provide certain information, so what we do at PICA is to put all newly submitted photographs against our database and when a match is obtained, we check if the match is related; and if the information provided is the same, then fine — all is well.

“However, when we get a match and the information is different, then we have to conduct an investigation to find out the reason/s why this is so. There might be a number of legitimate reason(s) why a person may have more than one passport on the system. For example, a person may have changed their names by deed poll,” Wynter detailed for the Jamaica Observer.

The acting PICA head then informed that there are a number of reasons that people may use illegitimate means to obtain a passport. The most prevalent means of trying to obtain a passport illegally are the submission of fraudulent documents or simply providing fraudulent information on the application. The reasons may differ from person to person but, according to Wynter, offenders are usually those wanting to migrate and who may have been refused visas.

PICA operates an Investigation and Surveillance Unit which is responsible for doing all the agency’s investigative work, after which case files are prepared for submission to the courts. PICA has powers under the law to submit cases to the courts as the PICA investigative unit is made up police officers who are specially assigned to PICA, as well as other personnel who have powers to act as police officers.

Since the new facial recognition system has been put into use, over 70 people have faced the courts.

“We have placed over 70 people before the courts and they have been successfully prosecuted for various breaches, and we have a number of cases pending right now.

“The issue of the penalties administered is another matter which needs urgent attention. There are a number of violations under the Passport Act, including aiding and abetting any person in the commission of obtaining a passport illegally. Fines for offences relating to passport violations levied by the court may range anywhere from $200 to $60,000, depending on the legislation that the offender is charged for breaching.

“If a person is unable to pay the fine, then that person may be incarcerated by the Parish Magistrate for a period of time — usually three months. It is a fine or confine situation.

“The larger fines (from $20,000 to $60,000) for passport offences are obtained under the Forgery Act, as there is a section in the Act that specifically addresses the issue of passport fraud. The reason why many offenders are charged under the Forgery Act is because, in many instances, they would have used forged or fraudulent documents to obtain passports.

“The fines under the Passport Act are not as high as those under the Forgery Act, and over the years the agency has made submissions for the fines under the Passport Act to be increased,” Wynter said. He then suggested that if fines under the Passport Act are higher, then it would act as a deterrent to people trying to use unscrupulous means to obtain a passport. Under the Passport Act the maximum fine is $200.

“Why this is important is due to the fact that there have been instances of people certifying documents and making false declarations for perspective passport applicants.

“I strongly recommend to all applicants that if they are unsure of what are the requirements or the procedures for obtaining a new passport or renewing a passport, they should contact or visit one of the agency’s offices or visit the agency’s website (www.pica.gov.jm) for information,” Wynter suggested.