Finger-Print System Proves Value to N.Z.

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1062, 28 August 1930, Page 1

Finger-Print System Proves Value to N.Z.

USEFUL LAST YEAR TWO GREAT SUCCESSES THE SUN’S Parliament ary Reporter PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Wed. The importance of the fingerprint and the registration system in the activities of the Police Department during the past year was well borne out in two cases, ac- ! cording to the annual report of the Department presented to Parlia- ; ment today. “At headquarters,” says the report, j “the finger Impressions of 3,055 per- j sons were received. classified, searched and filed. During the year 239 persons were identified as previous offenders, who, had it not been for the finger-print system, would probably have passed as first offenders. Nine hundred and sixty photographs were taken by photographers attached to the branch and the photographs of 2,515 prisoners (4,189 photographs) were dealt with and 528 photographs were reproduced in the Police Gazette. In 15 cases of breaking and entering the finger-prints left by offenders when committing crimes were identified and the offenders brought to justice. The most noteworthy of these were the following: cember 17 last a constable in Dunedin saw a man loitering in one of the streets. He was interviewed and his finger-prints obtained, and these were 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, admitting 14 offences (mostly; of Safe blowing), which he had committal in Christchurch and Dunedin. The details of his finger-prints were cabled to New Scotland Yard, London, and a reply was received next day giving particulars of previous convictions recorded 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 liad been broken into and the partner of the firm shot by the intruder. These impressions were identified as those of a youth who was arrested for another offence, and who subsequently pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted murder and several other charges. 20 “WANTEDS” IDENTIFIED During the year the finger-print system was responsible for the identification of 20 persons wanted by the police, and for identifying one deceased person. Since its inception in 1904, the number of finger-prints in the collection has grown from 3,500 to 42,371. The section of the criminal registration branch at Auckland, which was established in June, 1928, reports that finger impressions of 764 persons were received, classified, searched, card-indexed and filed during the year and that 14 persons were identified as previous offenders. The finger-print collection now totals 1,270 impressions, and 135 re-convictions have been recorded.

The photographs of 288 prisoners were taken and 1,395 photographs with descriptions and criminal histories supplied to the department, while 233 miscellaneous photographs of exhibits, views of localities, etc., required in investigations and prosecutions were also supplied. The results of prosecutions and the particulars of previous local criminal history were furnished in 390 cases to headquarters.