The significance of today’s news about the Police Forensic Department receiving a mobile fingerprinting workstation should not be underestimated. A system to take and store finger- and palmprints of detainees was installed in 2003, allowing for immediate crosschecking with the database of unresolved current as well as “cold” cases.
However, this latest addition should make it considerably more effective by using a digital live-scan instead of the “ink and roll” method. The remote unit will enable authorities to be more flexible and trace suspects who are already registered more quickly, while “the trail is still hot.”
It must be said, often the complaint was heard in the past that police would not come and take fingerprints at all after a burglary or would take so long to get there the evidence might have been damaged by the elements or cleaning when they finally show up. Considering that the new device also came with training, one would hope the service-to-the-public aspect also gets some attention.
A simple burglary may not be considered a high priority crime, but to the person whose home, car or business was invaded it can be quite disturbing, Such, relatively minor, offences also need to be taken seriously and vigorously pursued, because they to a large extent determine the day-to-day sense of safety and security that is so important to the island and its tourism economy,
