FINGER PRINT SYSTEM

Hokitika Guardian, 29 August 1930, Page 3

FINGER PRINT SYSTEM

ITS EFFICACY. SOME ILLUSTRATIONS. WELLINGTON, August. 27. . The efficacy of the linger print system of identification is attested in the annual, report of the Police Departmen t presented to Parliament to-day. The report states, that at headquarters finger impressions of 3055 persons were received, classified, searched and filed during the year.. Two hundred anu thirty-nine persons were identified as previous offenders, who,, -had it not been for the linger print system, would probably have passed as first offenders: Nine hundred and .sixty photographs were taken. In fifteen eases off breaking and entering finger- prints left by offenders wlien committing these crimes were identified and the offenders brought to justice. The most noteworthy of these were the following:— At 2 a,m. on December 17 last a canstable in Dunedin saw si'man loitering in' one of the streets.' He was interviewed and his linger, prints obtained, and these were 1 found to correspond with some left on a safe which; had been blown open in Dunedin ’a' (few days previously. ‘ On receipt of this information the Dunedin, .police again located the man and arrested him for this ..offence, . He..then ..made a . confession.. admittiiig;foui;fieeii offences (mosj T ly saf'cTblowing): which lie.- had committed jn Chi'istchurcli..and Equedih.. .Details of Iris finger,prjuts w,ere-cabled,to, New Scotland Yard, London, and a reply was received, the next day giving particulars or. previous convictions reorded against him in England. He was later sentenced to five years’ hard labour and declared an habitual criminal.

In July last finger prints were 'found at a shop in Christchurch which had been broken into and. a partner of the firm shot by the-intruder. These impressions were' identified-ns those of ayouth \vhb was arrested for anotheroffence, and \vlio : subsequently plea'ded ruilty tb the charge of attempted mur(l6i'"and seve fill 'other charges. ’■ Duriiig the year the finger print 'system was res'ponsile for' the identification of twenty persons wanted by tlie 1 nolico, als6 fof 'tlie 'identifying of one deceased pension. ' .