Fingerprints

[mcxuk1]

Hi,

Can somebody please help settle a pub bet for me please?

If a person has their fingerprints taken by the police, but they have never been taken before, then are they scanned against fingerprints relating to outstanding crimes? Two of the resident experts in the pub on Saturday had conflicting views on this. Usual story, both have a friend is a police officer so they are definitely correct.

Thanks

[mehball]

Yes. DNA is taken now too for most offences and these too are subject to a search on the database.

[Mk3Spitfire]

And footwear impressions

[mcxuk1]

Thanks chaps

[Bigends]

Elimination prints wont be - ie those taken in the event your house is burgled for example. All others get popped into the database and will be searched against any outstanding crime scene lifts.

[Cyberprog]

Bigends said:

Elimination prints wont be - ie those taken in the event your house is burgled for example. All others get popped into the database and will be searched against any outstanding crime scene lifts.

• officially. Might well get run against the DB on the off chance though!

[Bigends]

Cyberprog said:

• officially. Might well get run against the DB on the off chance though!

Force would be in big doo doos if they did that and anyone found out. They should be returned or destroyed after comparison with scene lifts.

[Cyberprog]

Bigends said:

Force would be in big doo doos if they did that and anyone found out. They should be returned or destroyed after comparison with scene lifts.

They wouldn't be able to use them of course, but, well, amazing what you might get nicked for a week or two later...

[carreauchompeur]

Yes, prints are searched against the DB every time they are taken.

The other interesting fillip is that the prints count 'individually'- so occasionally people end up with a better impression of a certain finger and it promptly pings up against a crime mark from years ago- even if they've been nicked loads of times in the interim!

[Bigends]

carreauchompeur said:

Yes, prints are searched against the DB every time they are taken.

The other interesting fillip is that the prints count 'individually'- so occasionally people end up with a better impression of a certain finger and it promptly pings up against a crime mark from years ago- even if they've been nicked loads of times in the interim!

Exactly why a set is taken every time theyre arrested.

Elimination prints can only be retained or searched against other crimes with the consent of the subject

[sunnydude959]

Mk3Spitfire said:

And footwear impressions

So if you get caught whilst wearing a pair of Nike Air Force One's, you'll get done for another 50 crimes that you know nothing about?

[Mk3Spitfire]

sunnydude959 said:

So if you get caught whilst wearing a pair of Nike Air Force One's, you'll get done for another 50 crimes that you know nothing about?

Each footwear impression is almost unique. Footwear impressions are being used more and more now and being ever more successful in identifying suspects. Nike Air Force ones are quite rare, so would be a nice lead.

[Derek Smith]

Bigends said:

Exactly why a set is taken every time theyre arrested.

Two reasons in the main: one to ensure that you are who you say you are.

Secondly, you get scratches and little cuts on your fingers. They also wear - you want to take prints from someone who is blind. They have a mass of scars.

So the changes are listed. When it comes to matching prints then the more recent the impression, the more likely for enough similarities. A cut can move a whirl or line just enough, or too much I suppose.

One absolutely hilarious night in the nick was when a group of 5 bricklayers were brought in. Most only had a print on one or two fingers. They still had to be submitted.

[sunnydude959]

Mk3Spitfire said:

Each footwear impression is almost unique. Footwear impressions are being used more and more now and being ever more successful in identifying suspects. Nike Air Force ones are quite rare, so would be a nice lead.

......Yes, i'll give you that actually, they are quite rare.

I've been meaning to buy a pair for a couple of years now but I have to convince myself its worth paying £100+ for them. I keep telling myself that they are essentially the G-wagen of shoes :P

[Mk3Spitfire]

But surely an investment!