Schengen police database delayed
A new database for hunting criminals in Europe will not be operational until at least 2013, the European Commission revealed on Thursday.
The Schengen Information System II – to which Switzerland, as a Schengen member, has access – was originally planned for 2007 but has frequently crashed during tests.
The current Schengen Information System enables police to track cross-border criminals by using a databank with information on wanted persons and stolen goods. The updated version is planned to be faster and able to process biometric data.
The border-free Schengen Area covers 27 countries on the continent. In 2005 Swiss voters approved membership of the Schengen Area in a nationwide ballot.
Systematic checks on individuals have been abolished since December 12, 2009. While terrestrial borders no longer have passport control points, goods traffic are still subject to regular customs searches.
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