NCJ Number
13785
Journal
Police Journal Volume: 47 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL-JUNE 1974) Pages: 159-160
Date Published
1974
Length
2 pages
Annotation
DESCRIPTION OF A RELATIVELY SOPHISTICATED TECHNIQUE OF DELIBERATE DISFIGUREMENT AND ALTERATION OF PAPILLARY RIDGE CONFIGURATIONS TO CONCEAL IDENTITY.
Abstract
DURING A RECENT PATTERN SURVEY AT THE IDENTIFICATION BUREAU OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE, SEVERAL CASES REVEALED THE USE OF A MORE SOPHISTICATED TECHNIQUE IN THE TRANSMOGRIFICATION OF PATTERNS. IN THESE CASES, THE ALTERATION INVOLVED THE DISPLACEMENT OF THE CENTRE OF THE PATTERN AREA TO AN INVERTED POSITION. THIS HAD BEEN ACHIEVING BY CUTTING THE CORE AREA FROM THE FINGER, REPOSITIONING THE CUT SEGMENT AND ALLOWING THE AREA TO HEAL. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CUT SEGMENT HAS BEEN MADE WITHOUT REGARD TO THE RECOGNISED APPEARANCE OF FINGERPRINT PATTERNS AND THE TRANSMOGRIFICATION IS THEREFORE OBVIOUS. HAD CARE BEEN TAKEN AND A BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF FINGERPRINT PATTERNS APPLIED IN ALIGNING THE SEGMENT, GREATER DIFFICULTY MIGHT HAVE RESULTED IN IDENTIFICATION. IN ALL CASES ON RECORD IN HONG KONG WHERE THIS ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN THE PERSONS INVOLVED DID NOT HAVE A CRIMINAL HISTORY OF PROLONGED OR SERIOUS CRIME. ALL WERE DEPORTEES WHO WERE ANXIOUS TO RE-ENTER THE COLONY AND ASSUME PERMANENT RESIDENCE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)