Dr. Timothy Stitt and Kaydeen Williamson, Contributers
Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS) machine. - CONTRIBUTED
ON JANUARY 3, 2006, a BBC report heralded Jamaica as the new 'murder capital of the world'. With over 1,600 people killed in 2005 (a rate of at least five people murdered per day) Jamaica stands as one of the most violent countries on Earth.
This report speaks of the novel ways information technology has been exploited to fight serious crime across the world. Furthermore, it will highlight some of the work being done by dedicated staff and students at the University of the West Indies to apply this technology to reduce the homicide rate.
E-POLICING INITIATIVES
In some countries around the world traditional law enforcement has been rejuvenated with the exploitation of novel and cutting-edge computer technologies (sometimes called electronic policing or e-policing). Britain is one of the most closely-monitored nations on the planet with over five million closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems monitoring shopping centres, train stations, public parks and even school classrooms where parents can be shown evidence of their unruly children. With cheaper memory technologies CCTV cameras can even store and automatically recognise the number plate identification of gas station customers who fill up and drive off without paying. Networked to police databases, such devices can even scan and instantaneously recognise license plate numbers belonging to traffic offenders and terrorists. While resourceful criminals have found ways to exploit the geographically static nature of CCTV cameras, the latest advances in wi-fi (wireless) communication has allowed cameras to become highly portable and less conspicuous without any noticeable and expensive wiring.
DATA COMMUNICATION
In policing, clear and secure voice and data communication is vital to any successful operation. In the United Kingdom, outdated analogue radio networks are being replaced by clear digital communication providing improved coverage, greater clarity, and mobile data capabilities (including the transmission of images, video and sound) networked to centralised national police computer databases (NPCs). Additionally digital communications are encrypted to stop criminal eavesdropping, rendering scanning equipment useless. Available 24 hours a day, a national policing computer provides invaluable storage of information as well as online intelligence for conducting investigations. Accessed through a secure network from thousands of terminals across the country, the NPCs can provide information from potential jurors with criminal links to instantaneous roadside verification of a driver's licence entitlement and insurance status (currently motorists are asked to attend their police station of choice with their details within a fixed time frame creating a costly and time-consuming paper chase). Custody suite applications have also been developed facilitating electronically the 'booking in' through to 'charge and disposal' of a detainee. Within a few minutes the detainee's details, reasons for arrests, grounds for detention, signature and image capture are recorded and logged with the police national computer with the automatic production of letters, forms and reports.
REAL-TIME ASSESSMENT OF EMERGING CRIME
In the summer of 2005, New York opened up its first Real Time Crime Centre which conducts rapid analysis of homicides and shootings citywide, using sophisticated data-mining techniques, in order to provide a real-time assessment of emerging crime, crime patterns and potential crime suspects citywide. Officers in the field can benefit from satellite imaging, real-time data and GIS maps to make quick and informed decisions. Also, police officers can access probation and parole records, complaints, 911 call histories, state and federal crime records, DNA and tattoo/distinguishing marks information by searching a single database either locally or remotely. Elsewhere, security forces are applying earthquake-sensing equipment in the identification of gunfire locations to enhance security measures involving biometric identification of potential suspects using facial, fingerprint and iris recognition.
Recently Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is being promoted as measure to protect personal property from theft, including humans themselves. In an RFID system, low-cost transponders (called tags) containing silicon chips can be attached to an object, animal or person. Tags can contain information regarding the price, colour and purchase date of an item to the personal characteristics of a human or animal. RFID readers can then scan and decode the information in tags to millimetre accuracy in some technologies. Taking the technology to the extreme, Applied Digital Solutions is promoting their 'unique-under-the-skin' format as a solution to identity fraud, secure building access, computer access, medical record storage and anti-kidnapping initiatives. In the near future all passports and driver's licences may include RFID technology.
CRIME FIGHTING, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND JAMAICA
Jamaica has introduced the Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS), acquired through a contract with the Canadian company Forensic Technology, to replace the DrugFire machine developed by the FBI and housed at the Police Forensic Lab. IBIS's role is to capture and compare ballistic images of fired bullets and cartridge cases enabling a speedy and accurate association among guns used in crimes and criminals. In addition, the Automatic (Palm and) Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS/APIS) arrived here in January. AFIS will be used to computerise Jamaica's largest database of convict fingerprints.
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