VALUE OF FINGERPRINTS IN DETECTING CRIME

Chronicle (Levin), 24 July 1947, Page 5

VALUE OF FINGERPRINTS IN DETECTING CRIME

-Press Association

By Telegraph

WELLINGTON, July 23. The extent and value of fnigerprinting in crinie detection is show n in the annual report lor 1946-47 of the Police Force, propared by the Comniissioner, Mr. James ruminiugs, and pre sented in the liouse of Representatives yesterday. Headquarters of the Crim inal Registration Branch, Wellington, has the iinger impressions of 70,065 persons. To March 31, 1947, the system in Wellington had been responsible for the identilic.ation of .8479 persons. In one case the lingerprints of a nian arrested in New Zealand for a serious crinie were transmitted to London in the Oollins fingerprint code and a reply received in three davs, giving full par ticulars of the xnaix's previous history, as known to Bcotland Yard. In 44 cases during the year, offenders were traced by lingerprints as having been convicted before and in l(j other cases prints left when crinies were conxmxtted were ideutified and arrests made. Twelve wanted persons were loeated and three unknown deceased persons identifted by lingerprints. The report deals with other means of crinie preventioxx aud detection. In cluded are the radio system which perni its .the central statioiif? at Auckland and Wellington to communicate with police patrol ears, and teleprinter uxxits in use at Christchurch, Dunedin, Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North and Wellington, providing a direct, prompt and confidential channel af communication between these ceutres. • Wellington has a system of liuking all suburban stations and district head quarters for simultaneous broadcasts. This system would be extended to ather ceutres as equii>ment became xvailable.