CRIMINAL DETECTION

Hokitika Guardian, 7 August 1930, Page 3

CRIMINAL DETECTION

FINGER IMPRESSIONS

IMPROVED METHODS

LONDON, August 19

Scotland Yam experts have been experimenting to find a simpler way of detecting criminals through finger impressions, and after much study and research Chief Inspector Biattley' Inis jvotvoil a method which will probably >e adopted by the police of aii countries. Occasions are rare when more than one clear digital print is left -behind by a thief, so that if the known difference in the patterns of finger prints is to he used at all successfully to detect criminals, it must be by a single anger-print system.

Such a system, introduced by Inspector Collins, Air Battlev’s predecessor, has been in use for the past seven years, but it had many drawbacks. Searching for a duplicate in the bureau collection of some 403,9 single impressions was found long and difficult, and a few identifications made did not justify the time and labour expended. Mr Bnttley lias worked to provide ,a satisfactory pietliod of classifying •tnd filing Ringer-prints, .which can easily and readily be identified, with, fin-, ger marks found at the: scenesiof.crime. He explains bis system in ad ook whioli vvill be published by. • the > Stationary , OUICe. ■ ... rVi. , ;

•The author’s secret: ]ies>nn a special-glass.-with. a . centre; .- spot' and seven concentric ■ cirhles. Thus-' a circular area is taken ‘for scrutiny. Taken alone, ridge characteristics—the ■ abrupt beginning and endings by bifur-’ cations, etc., in the papillary ridges—have been found unreliable as a basis of classification for single prints, as they assume different forms according to varying pressures. Air Battley has provided important new sub-groups for classification by noting the particular circles on his glass in which specified points of a print fall, and their relationship to each other.