Identification

The Identification Bureau continued to play an important role in crime
detection and investigation, providing an efficient service to all units in the
Force and other law enforcement departments in fingerprint technology
and forensic photography.

On fingerprint identifications, the bureau achieved a high level of
efficiency and service in 1997 with the implementation of Phase II of the
Computer Assisted Fingerprint Identification System and the introduction
of new fingerprint recovery techniques by the Advanced Technology
Unit. Altogether 1 278 persons were identified in connection with 1 243
crime cases. After the identifications, fingerprint experts presented expert
evidence in 394 cases.

During the year, officers from the Scenes of Crime Section attended
15 942 crime scenes. In confirming people's previous criminal
convictions, the bureau processed the fingerprints of 151 867 persons,
which led to the identifications of 68 843 with criminal records.

The Photographic Section produced 80 217 monochrome photographs
and 945 486 colour prints and slides in 1997. It made videos of crime
re-enactments and prepared photographic exhibits for presentation in
courts.

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