The field of biometric recognition - automated recognition of individuals based on their behavioural and biological characteristics - has now reached a level of maturity where viable practical applications are both possible and increasingly available. The biometrics field is characterised especially by its interdisciplinarity since, while focused primarily around a strong technological base, effective system design and implementation often requires a broad range of skills encompassing, for example, human factors, data security and database technologies, psychological and physiological awareness, and so on. Also, the technology focus itself embraces diversity, since the engineering of effective biometric systems requires integration of image analysis, pattern recognition, sensor technology, database engineering, security design and many other strands of understanding.The scope of the journal is intentionally relatively wide. While focusing on core technological issues, it is recognised that these may be inherently diverse and in many cases may cross traditional disciplinary boundaries. The scope of the journal will therefore include any topics where it can be shown that a paper can increase our understanding of biometric systems, signal future developments and applications for biometrics, or promote greater practical uptake for relevant technologies:Development and enhancement of individual biometric modalities including the established and traditional modalities (e.g. face, fingerprint, iris, signature and handwriting recognition) and also newer or emerging modalities (gait, ear-shape, neurological patterns, etc.)Multibiometrics, theoretical and practical issues, implementation of practical systems, multiclassifier and multimodal approachesSoft biometrics and information fusion for identification, verification and trait predictionHuman factors and the human-computer interface issues for biometric systems, exception handling strategiesTemplate construction and template management, ageing factors and their impact on biometric systemsUsability and user-oriented design, psychological and physiological principles and system integrationSensors and sensor technologies for biometric processingDatabase technologies to support biometric systemsImplementation of biometric systems, security engineering implications, smartcard and associated technologies in implementation, implementation platforms, system design and performance evaluationTrust and privacy issues, security of biometric systems and supporting technological solutions, biometric template protectionBiometric cryptosystems, security and biometrics-linked encryptionLinks with forensic processing and cross-disciplinary commonalitiesCore underpinning technologies (e.g. image analysis, pattern recognition, computer vision, signal processing, etc.), where the specific relevance to biometric processing can be demonstratedApplications and application-led considerationsPosition papers on technology or on the industrial context of biometric system developmentAdoption and promotion of standards in biometrics, improving technology acceptance, deployment and interoperability, avoiding cross-cultural and cross-sector restrictionsRelevant ethical and social issues