ENG-1999 — Page 353

PUBLIC ORDER

Forensic Firearms Examination

The Forensic Firearms Examination Bureau continued 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. During the year, good working relationships were established with Macau and other regional forensic laboratories to help in the investigation of cross-border crimes.

A scanning electron microscope, specifically tailored for the qualitative analysis of gunshot residue exhibits, became operational in February. This equipment helps officers to determine both who fired a weapon and the origin of the ammunition.

The computerised bullet and cartridge identification system, which can compare within minutes used ammunition in a shooting incident with stored data on unsolved crimes, is one of the most advanced items of equipment in the region.

Identification

The Identification Bureau embraces the latest fingerprint and photographic technology in supporting operational officers in detecting crime.

Officers of the Scenes of Crime Section provide round-the-clock coverage for fingerprint examinations at crime scenes. During the year, they attended 17 448 crime scenes. The Advanced Technology Section conducts laboratory analyses and examinations of exhibits to reveal fingerprints that cannot otherwise be detected by conventional methods. The section identified 649 persons, 216 of whom were related to cases serious or high profile in nature.

The Computer Assisted Fingerprint Identification System is one of the most advanced fingerprint search systems in the world. The system has a database of 729 412 criminal fingerprints and 48 590 unsolved marks recovered from crime scenes. In 1999, it processed the fingerprints of 135 078 persons leading to the identification of 56 534 persons with criminal records. The system, together with the manual comparison methods against known suspects, resulted in the identification of 1 777 persons related to 1 703 outstanding crimes. Expert court testimony was given on the results obtained and the conclusion which might be formulated on the basis of these results.

The Photographic Section provides film processing and printing in black-and-white and colour of investigative photography, makes videos of crime re-enactments and provides 24-hour coverage for crime scene photography. During the year, it produced 95 995 monochrome photographs and 1 007 920 colour prints and slides.

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.

The Liaison Division of the bureau liaises closely with the Interpol China National Central Bureau (CNCB) in Beijing, the Guangdong Liaison Office, Shenzhen and Zhuhai Liaison Sub-Offices in Guangdong Province and other Mainland law enforcement organisations. Since 1990, 150 criminal fugitives and 158 stolen vehicles have been returned to Hong Kong from the Mainland.

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