Over the next six months, the country will benefit from a US-$990,000 upgrade of the Automated Palm and Fingerprint Identification System (APFIS) operated by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

The proposed contract was signed last Thursday by Minister of National Security Dwight Nelson and the SAGEM Defense Sécurité from France.

The money will be used to equip the JCF with additional services and equipment to help in fighting the nation's crime woes.

"It will greatly improve the capabilities of the Jamaica Constabulary Force to use fingerprint-identification technology in solving crimes in Jamaica," said Nelson.

Build upon success

He also noted that "It will build upon our (JCF) successes in service delivery to the Jamaican public in areas such as providing police records."

The upgrade will allow the JCF to separate fingerprints into criminal and non-criminal data.

It will also be used to purchase additional equipment, which will be deployed at the criminal court in Kingston, Department of Correctional Services and the Firearms Licensing Authority.

Nelson pointed out that all legal matters relating to the use of fingerprints will be ironed out.

He said the JCF had assured him that "the aim is to, in the future, raise the success rate (of crime fighting)".

The JCF, since October 2006, has been able through the APFIS to solve 422 cases of crime-scene investigations compared with 48 cases over the period January 2003 to October 2006.

The increase has led to a higher number of arrests and convictions.