high levels of import, manufacture, distribution and export of drugs, 3,118 people were arrested for drug trafficking offences - the majority being street-level drug sellers.
The number of methadone clinics for addicts operated by the Government and voluntary agencies increased during the year and was accompanied by significant numbers of addicts taking advantage of the treatment. This trend was undoubtedly influenced, in part, by periodic shortages of drugs and spiralling prices, which were attributable to the enforcement action and the consequent aggravation of problems faced by addicts. The price of heroin, in particular, doubled during the year.
Support Services
Criminal Records Office
The Criminal Records Office is a depository for criminal records and related information for the whole of Hong Kong. It provides, in essence, a Criminal Justice Informa- tion System to which various formations and organisations contribute and which, in turn, have access to some or all of the information available, according to their needs. Within the CID structure, the office encompasses not only criminal records but the Criminal Intelligence Unit and the Police Supervisee Section.
With the increasing number of convictions in the criminal courts, the office has, inevitably, expanded its resources. To aid this expansion a microfilming programme was introduced in 1973 and, currently, only criminal record files for individuals who have three or more convictions, together with investigation files which were created in the current or immediately preceding year, are held in 'hard-jacket' form.
The use of automatic data processing continues to be applied to indices held by the office. The Modus Operandi Index is already computer-based and is continuing to expand. The index has been code-named MOSAIC, an acronym for 'Modus Operandi Search and Identification by Computer.' The revised system allows for a wider recording of criminals and an increase in the volume of searches of the index. Additional automatic data processing applications are being introduced, placing certain categories of personalities who are currently wanted on warrants into a computer for immediate on-line retrieval.
The Police Supervisee Section was founded in its present form in 1956. It is responsible not only for people placed on police supervision by the courts, but also for the ex- amination of cases in which aliens are convicted of criminal offences with a view to recommending their deportation or otherwise. The unit is also responsible for making recom- mendations concerning prisoners who either petition the Governor for a reduction of their sentences, or who are the subject of long-term prison review.
The Criminal Intelligence Bureau is currently a small group with limited capability. It operates a central intel- ligence unit for the Force and the Hong Kong Interpol Bureau. Plans are being formulated to expand the capability of the central unit and the co-ordination of criminal intel- ligence activities at all levels within the Force.
During 1976 the Interpol Bureau joined the Interpol radio network, resulting in an increase of approximately
43 per cent in requests by agencies throughout the world. The unit has also given practical help which has resulted in a significant number of arrests for crimes committed both locally and overseas.
Identification Bureau
Specialised services provided by the Identification Bureau include fingerprint technology, forensic photography and handwriting identification. During 1976 facilities were fully utilised and to good effect. Physical evidence provided by the bureau, particularly latent fingerprints, featured in 430 cases brought before the courts.
From information given by witnesses a composit identi-kit face takes shape . . and a face leads to a name and a probable arrest.
•
During the year fingerprint technicians found finger or palm prints at the scene of 5,772 crimes, which led to 265 identifications.
A further aspect of fingerprint technology is the deter- mination of whether or not an individual has a criminal record. The unit conducted 48,387 searches in respect of arrested persons and established that 24,758 had criminal records.
The photographic section of the bureau provides a 24-hour service in all aspects of forensic photography. It supplies an average of 25,000 photographs a month. Equipped with the most modern equipment, the unit has extended its capability to the processing and printing of colour film.
A final role is the identification of handwriting and type- script. A total of 2,500 unidentified writings (blackmail, indecent, threatening and false accusation letters) were filed for future reference. The typescript 'standards' collection contains specimen type from 1,200 machines.
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