iPhone Touch ID and Stolen Device Protection issue

I had a similar problem to that described in this post:

Touch ID fingerprints can’t be deleted, n… - Apple Community

Recently my iPhone (SE3) was failing to open using Touch ID and in this situation in the past I have replaced my fingerprints, which has always successfully restored the operation of Touch ID. As you get older your skin dries out and I suspect this accounts for why previously recorded fingerprints cease to work with Touch ID. So my fingerprints need recording again every few months.

On this occasion, when I started to replace my fingerprints I was told I had to wait an hour before it would let me delete the existing fingerprints that were no longer being recognised. It said I was in an unfamiliar location. 

After the hour was up I started to delete my existing fingerprints. I managed to delete the first two of five, but then could go no further as the phone wanted to verify it was me via my fingerprint. So I tried add a new fingerprint to my iPhone but could not because it needed a fingerprint to verify it was me. 

I found that a new feature, Stolen Device Protection was turned on, which I assume was installed as part of IOS 18.x and was switched on by default. It would appear that Significant Locations is also part of this same security feature. 

Despite being at home at the time and home being listed in my familiar location list and Find My also showing I was at home, Significant Locations seemed to think I was in a place called Winsley, where I had been the previous evening. I tried to switch Stolen Device Protection off but was not allowed to because it needed a valid fingerprint that no longer existed.

How could I get fingerprint recognition working again?

I reviewed the article:

If Touch ID isn't working on your iPhone or iPad – Apple Support (UK)

… but found it was of little or no help. I contacted Apple Support who wanted to run a diagnostic test on my phone to provide information on the state of the hardware. I was told to go to Settings > Privacy > Analytics and Improvement to initiate the diagnostic test, but found the agent had somehow managed to start the Mobile Resource Inspector without my help. 

The agent checked the test results and found my device's software and hardware components were all OK. The agent then suggested I go to the local Apple Shop to get help from them, so I made an appointment for the following day.

Later, having found it irritating to have to try to unlock my phone with a fingerprint that no longer existed, I decided to see if I could turn off Touch ID for iPhone Unlock (Settings > Touch ID & Passcode > iPhone Unlock) which I did. I also turned off Touch ID for iTunes & App Store, and for Contactless & Payments. 

For good measure I cleared and turned off Significant Locations (Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services > Significant Locations > Significant Locations) and also turned off Stolen Device Protection (Settings > Privacy & Security > Stolen Device Protection).

After that I was able to delete the rest of my fingerprints and subsequently record them afresh requiring only my Passcode. I then turned on Touch ID for iPhone Unlock and for iTunes & App Store. I also turned on Significant Locations along with Stolen Device Protection. 

And now my iPhone is back working properly.