ENG-1995 — Page 321

PUBLIC ORDER

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The purchase of a new model 'Robotcop' enabled the continuation of anti-crime campaigns to juveniles through schools, youth organisations and public exhibitions.

Crime Information

The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) is the sole repository for criminal records in Hong Kong, housing complete records on all persons convicted of crime in the territory. These records and indices provide details of persons wanted, suspected offenders, missing persons, stolen property, outstanding warrants and missing vehicles.

The CRB also has an Enhanced Police Operational Nominal Index Computer System (EPONICS), which operates round-the-clock to provide immediate enquiry support to all operational officers. The bureau has embarked on a programme to improve efficiency and effectiveness with gradual introduction of a fully computerised system to house all records.

Ballistics and Firearms Identification

Cross-border co-operation has continued to cut down the number of arms surfacing in Hong Kong. This is reflected in the figures of arms seized during the year, 36 in 1995 compared with 43 in 1994. The bureau dealt with 248 cases in 1995, a slight decrease against the figure of 265 in 1994.

The bureau, in addition to acquiring a comparison microscope, is considering the purchase of a computer-assisted comparison system. The system, at present is still in the early stages of development, shows great promise of reducing the amount of time required to complete cases compared with the traditional, labour-intensive method. The bureau remains active in assisting the private sector to test bullet-resistant materials for the security industry.

Identification

The Identification Bureau supports all units in the Force in fingerprint technology and forensic photography. In fingerprint identifications, it continued to achieve improved levels of efficiency and service in 1995. The Computer Assisted Fingerprint Identification System (CAFIS), coupled with traditional methods of comparing fingerprints, led to 1 078 people being linked to 1 071 criminal cases during the year. Full computerisation of the bureau's fingerprint records has been approved and the system should become operational in mid-1996.

Officers from the Scenes of Crime Section attended 24 645 crime scenes to examine fingerprints in 1995. Various measures were introduced to reduce the time taken to reach crime scenes, including experimental deployment schemes and the use of advanced communications equipment.

As the sole repository for fingerprint records in Hong Kong, the Main Finger- print Collection Section's principal task is confirming people's previous criminal convictions. In 1995, the section processed the fingerprints of 212 409 persons and identified 88 328 as having criminal records.

The Photographic Section produced 82 301 monochrome photographs and 871 900 colour prints and slides during the year. It also made videos of crime re-enactments, video-taped statements from suspects and prepared photographic exhibits for presentation in court.