NCJ Number
35669
Journal
International Criminal Police Review Issue: 298 Dated: (MAPY 1976) Pages: 138-139
Date Published
1976
Length
2 pages
Annotation
A COMPUTERIZED DATA BANK DESIGNED TO IMPROVE AND EXPEDITE THE TRANSMISSION OF INFORMATION TO ALL POLICE AUTHORITIES IN BELGIUM AND TO PROCESS POLICE INFORMATION AS AN AID TO CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
BELGIUM'S CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION (CID) COMPUTER IS BROKEN DOWN INTO TWO SECTIONS, ONE DEALING WITH PERSONS AND THE OTHER WITH EVENTS. AT THE TIME OF WRITING, INDEXES DEALING WITH IDENTIFICATION, MISSING OR WANTED PERSONS, INFORMATION COLLECTED DURING POLICE CHECKS, AND CONTACTS BETWEEN CRIMINALS WERE OPERATIONAL AND AN INDEX OF PHYSICAL PARTICULARS AND SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FELONS WAS TO BE ADDED TO THE SYSTEM. SINCE 1973, THE INDEX OF MISSING OR WANTED PERSONS HAS BEEN USED TO GENERATE UP-TO-DATE MICROCARDS WHICH CONTAIN INFORMATION ON ALL MISSING OR WANTED PERSONS IN BELGIUM SINCE 1950. THESE MICROCARDS CAN BE READ IN A VERY SIMPLE AND INEXPENSIVE DEVICE WHICH CAN BE KEPT IN A PATROL CAR SO THAT OFFICERS HAVE EASY ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION. SPECIAL INDEXES COVERING SERIOUS FORMS OF CRIME OR INTERNATIONAL OFFENSES AND PERSONS ON PROBATION ENABLE OFFICERS TO CHECK ON WHETHER THE PERSONS CONCERNED ARE RESPECTING THE CONDITIONS IMPOSED UPON THEM AND TO COMPARE SPECIFIC CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES OF PARTICULAR INDIVIDUALS WITH UNSOLVED CASES. IN THE FUTURE, THE CID DATA BANK WILL INCLUDE A SERIES OF INDEXES DEALING WITH UNSOLVED CASES AND UNKNOWN OFFENDERS. THE QUESTION OF CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION IS BRIEFLY ADDRESSED.