IB on par with its overseas counterparts
"One day in 1985 I received a telephone call from a Chief Inspector of the Identification Bureau (IB), asking me if I was interested in joining a fingerprint laboratory they were planning to set up in the Bureau. Having obtained a Master Degree in Forensic Science, I immediately accepted the offer. That was how I joined IB and stayed there until my forthcoming retirement, " said Senior Superintendent (SSP) Lo Kwai-long.
SSP Lo is now proceeding on pre-retirement leave. He joined the Force in 1982, and began his career with IB in November 1985 after a brief posting in Marine Region. He is very pleased that IB's professionalism and technological advancement had developed from strength to strength, and took pride in playing a part in the development and transformation of IB. "Our fingerprint laboratory, starting with 'nothing', has developed to what it is today. And that wasn't an easy job, " he noted.
Fingerprints and palmprints are unique to an individual. As the traces left behind by culprits are the key to solving crimes, fingerprint technology is vital to aid criminal investigation. Before 2008, IB's second-generation computer system could search and compare fingerprint traces only. In March 2008, introduction of the third-generation computer system, namely the Computer Assisted Palmprints and Fingerprints Identification System, marked a significant milestone in the technological advancement of IB. The System was not only capable of searching both palmprints and fingerprints traces, but also greatly improved its search efficiency when compared with the first and second-generation systems. Whilst cold search was used to be very time-consuming in the past, concrete results can now be achieved in only a few hours.
At the same time, accuracy of the third-generation system has improved to 90 per cent, in contrast to the 70 and 80 per cent achieved by the first and the second-generation systems respectively. Subsequently, the number of fingerprint identifications attained through the computer system has increased from 45 cases to the current 80 cases per month. With the aid of advanced technologies, IB has been able to boost its operational efficiency and capability to the forefront.
SSP Lo pointed out that IB is committed to keeping pace with the latest development of the fingerprint profession and adopting state-of-the-art technologies to support technical staff. This year, the Bureau has purchased a Portable Laser System to enhance its capability of recovering fingerprint traces from exhibits. In addition, it has also bought a Digital Image Enhancement System for refining fingerprints the quality of which has been adversely affected by background interference, so as to enhance accuracy in fingerprint comparisons.
In his 26-year career with IB, SSP Lo has handled numerous cases, amongst which the one that left him a deep impression was the notorious murder of five members of a family in Telford Garden 20 years ago. IB officers recovered a handful of fingerprints at the scene by using a Forensic Light Source and successfully identified the suspect, who was eventually brought to justice.
Another case SSP Lo still has vivid memory was the serial murders of sex workers in 2008, which hit newspaper headlines and brought considerable stress to officers. IB officers recovered a palmprint on a doorframe at a murder scene. By employing the then newly procured Computer Assisted Palmprints and Fingerprints Identification System, they managed to find out the identity of the suspect within a matter of 12 hours. SSP Lo was most impressed with the System's amazing output.
Way forward for fingerprint recovery
Looking ahead, SSP Lo is anxious to see further enhancement of the capability to recover fingerprints from exhibits, attain higher accuracy and efficiency, and a larger scope of automation in fingerprint search and identification. " There are a lot of challenges for fingerprints work. Proliferation of information technology has enabled culprits to easily access the latest fingerprint technologies from the Internet and other sources, and the means to avoid leaving behind any incriminating traces. Indeed, the accused and defense lawyers would call in fingerprint experts to challenge the relevant prosecution evidence in court. Therefore, IB has to be very thorough and accurate in preparing fingerprint evidence for court presentation, " he noted.
"The public generally has a fair understanding of fingerprint work, and a high expectation of us", SSP Lo continued. "At the same time, the media are constantly monitoring the work of IB, while other Force members demand for high efficiency and quality of our service. This, coupled with the turnover of experienced personnel due to retirement, have generated considerable work pressure for IB officers."
IB would continue to do its best despite so many challenges, SSP LO emphasized. The Bureau has set up its dedicated team to keep pulse on the latest technological advancements, topical issues affecting the profession, and the development of relevant overseas organisations. He added: "Some of my colleagues have even attended overseas seminars and training courses at their own expenses in a bid to acquire new knowledge and extend networking with their overseas counterparts."
Training for IB officers
According to SSP Lo, IB have all along given very high priority to training for its officers. Newcomers to IB must pass a stringent "Aptitude Test" and interview before being selected for an eight-week induction course. Upon fulfillment of a qualifying examination, they will be posted to different units for job enrichment through in-house on-the-job training. Three years after joining IB, officers will attend a Fingerprint Detection Technology Course. Depending on the ability and performance of individual officers, suitable ones will be selected to attend an Advanced Fingerprint Technology Course at a later stage. Subject to further assessment, they would then become a fingerprint expert.
IB also offers continuous training for its officers in the forms of training courses conducted by overseas experts in Hong Kong, as well as overseas seminars and courses.
"We take professionalism and integrity very seriously, and actively take part in technical exchanges and co-operate with counterparts of other Forces so that the standards of our officers would be elevated to a high level.
"While we pursue self-enhancement, we hope to acquire professional accreditation for the Bureau. I've advocated applying for the ISO 17025 Accreditation from the Hong Kong Accreditation Services. Preparation work is underway. The accreditation, if attained, would certainly take a major step forward for the future work and development of IB," said SSP Lo.
For the accreditation application, IB officers had made a great effort to get their jobs done that range from fingerprint recovery and identification of fingerprints to presentation of evidence in court. Their efforts would pay off when the application is accepted, he added.
In conclusion, SSP Lo said he was confident that IB, blessed with a sustainable work system and professional officers, will continue making great strides in future.
SSP
Lo
explains how a fingerprint was detected at the scene of a murder
Livescan
Fingerprint
Capturing System
Forensic
Superglue
Fuming Cabinet
Coherent
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Laser System