ENG-1993 — Page 325

PUBLIC ORDER

Anti-crime education for juveniles continued through the medium of the 'Robotcop', which was used in more than 200 displays in schools, youth organisations and public exhibitions throughout the year. Shop theft by juveniles was further targeted by the introduction of the life-size cardboard policeman', which attracted a positive response from retail outlets.

A new unit dedicated to the security of computers was set up, to undertake specialist training of crime prevention officers and the formulation of advisory publications for public dissemination.

Crime Information

The Criminal Records Bureau is the sole repository for criminal records in Hong Kong. It houses complete records on all persons convicted of crime in the territory.

The records and indices held by the bureau comprise details of wanted persons, suspected offenders, missing persons, stolen property, outstanding warrants and missing vehicles. At the end of the year, the indices held particulars of some 548 447 criminal records, 11 180 wanted persons, 1 201 missing persons, 6 227 outstanding warrants and 5 404 missing vehicles. During 1993, the Enhanced Police Operational Nominal Index Computer System (EPONICS) dealt with a total of 2 701 186 enquiries.

Ballistics and Firearms Identification

The Ballistics and Firearms Identification Bureau handled 318 cases involving the use or possession of a firearm during the year. This was a slight decrease over the previous year's figure of 338 cases. Weapons recovered were mainly self-loading pistols, although two fully-automatic Chinese type 56 assault rifles were also seized in one armed incident. As in previous years, the pistols recovered were mainly of the very powerful and penetrating 7.62 x 25 mm calibre, with countries of manufacture as diverse as China, Poland, Russia, Czechoslovakia and Hungary.

In addition to the forensic examination of firearms and ammunition, the bureau also dealt with the scientific aspects of gunshot residue examinations. These tests, which can prove beyond reasonable doubt whether a person has or has not recently fired a weapon, have proved invaluable in the investigation of armed crime incidents.

Identification

The Identification Bureau provides support to all formations in the Force in respect of fingerprint technology and forensic photography.

In terms of fingerprint identifications, improved levels of efficiency and service were achieved by the bureau in 1993, following the partial computerisation of the Force's fingerprint records. The Computer Assisted Fingerprint Identification System (CAFIS) reduced considerably the time taken to process fingerprints found at scenes of crime. The computer, coupled with the more traditional methods of searching fingerprints, led to 1201 persons being identified as being linked with 1 279 criminal cases during the year. Computerisation of the remainder of the bureau's fingerprint records continued.

During the year, officers from the Scenes of Crime Section attended 25 220 crimes scenes. Various measures were introduced to shorten the time taken to reach the scene of crime.

The Main Fingerprint Collection Section, which is principally responsible for confirming people's previous criminal convictions, processed the fingerprints of 205 928 persons, leading to the discovery of 83 796 persons who had criminal records.

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