New Fingerprint Identification System lands 63 successful matches – Crime Chief

 

By Kurt Campbell

[www.inewsguyana.com] – The New Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) has already resulted in some 63 successful matches that saw persons being arrested and prosecuted, according to Crime Chief Leslie James.

James, at the handing over ceremony on Tuesday evening (May 7) said of the 63 cases, three were for murder, 53 break and enter, three simple larcenies and four robberies under arms.

He said already thousands of data were entered into the system which was handed over by United States Ambassador to Guyana Brent Hardt to Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee for the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Police Force under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI).

The Crime Chief said the equipment will go a long way in crime fighting and will certainly bolster the work of the CID.

Meanwhile, the US Ambassador said he was happy to learn of the successes over the last year through the entering of data into the system.

He pointed to the longevity of storing the information and said he hopes that it will lead to seeing old cases reopened and increasing public trust of the Police Force and the justice system.

He pointed out that AFIS will assist prosecutors in building solid cases against suspects by providing imperial evidence that will unequivocally tie criminals to crime.

The US government under CBIS since 2010 has been providing assistance to the local security assistance, some of which was recalled by Ambassador Hardt.

On a separate note, Rohee said it was equally important to develop the Force’s human resource so that the equipment could be effectively utilized.

He said the two must go hand in hand and it will be futile if one was to be developed without the other. Rohee said the gift was a valued one and expressed appreciation on behalf of his government.