ENG-1998 — Page 354

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crime by their modus operandi. All of this information is available to force members through the 'Enhanced Police Operational Nominal Index Computer System' maintained by the bureau around the clock. The system dealt with 3 486 784 enquiries in 1998.

Forensic Firearms Examination

The Forensic Firearms Examination Bureau continues to play an important role in the investigation of firearms-related crimes by providing ever improving scientific services to the force and other disciplined services departments. Considerable progress has also been made in establishing links with Macau and other regional forensic laboratories to assist with the investigation of cross-border crimes.

With the aid of the recently purchased computerised bullet and cartridge identification system, it is now possible to compare, within minutes, fired ammunition in a shooting incident in Hong Kong with all the unsolved crime cases in the region. The scheduled purchase of a scanning electron microscope, specifically tailored for the qualitative analysis of gunshot residue exhibits, will also greatly improve the bureau's services in determining not only who fired a weapon, but also enabling officers to pinpoint in which country the ammunition was manufactured as well as its calibre. This equipment will also enable the bureau to provide analytical results in 48 hours, at most.

Identification

The Identification Bureau is a specialist operation providing professional fingerprint and photographic services to the force and other law enforcement agencies. The need to use technological measures as a primary aid in crime detection is increasing and the results achieved by the Computer Assisted Fingerprint Identification System render it an indispensable tool. The system greatly enhances the effectiveness and efficiency in searching fingerprints. During the year, it processed the fingerprints of 127 184 persons and led to the identification of 43 297 persons with criminal records. A total of 1 498 persons were identified in connection with 1 415 crime cases. After finishing identification, bureau experts presented fingerprint evidence in court in 465 cases.

Officers of the Scenes of Crime Section provide a 24-hour response for crime scenes fingerprint examinations. In 1998, they attended 20 616 crime scenes. In addition, the Advanced Technology Section employs the latest technologies in detecting fingerprints on exhibits which cannot otherwise be achieved by conventional means. The section identified 456 cases, some of which were extremely serious and high- profile in nature.

During the year, the Photographic Section produced 90 192 monochrome photographs and 990 602 colour prints and slides. It also provides 24-hour coverage for crime scene photography, makes videos of crime re-enactments and prepares photographic exhibits for presentation in courts.

Liaison

The Liaison Bureau acts as a co-ordination centre in dealing with criminal information and associated inquiries between the force and other police organisations. It also maintains close liaison with local consulate officials.