UAE | General
New technology to solve firearms crimes
Ballistic Identification System, the first of its kind in UAE, will help unravel shooting-related crimes
- By Siham Al Najami, Staff Reporter
- Published: 22:59 February 25, 2009
- Image Credit: Supplied Picture
- A Dubai Police officer explains the features of the Integrated Ballistic Identification System, an automated firearms identification system, which basically use computers to automate the process of matching a piece of recovered ballistic evidence against a database.
Dubai: Dubai Police has integrated an automated firearms identification system for matching a piece of recovered ballistic evidence against a computer database. The system called the Integrated Ballistic Identification System will help in solving shooting related crimes.
According to Colonel Nasser Al Shamsi, head of the examination of firearms machinery, at the management of the Forensic Laboratory at Dubai Police's Forensic Sciences Department, the system is the first of its kind in the UAE with only four other Arab states having it. They are Algeria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
The system refers to computers to automate the process of matching a piece of recovered ballistic evidence - which can be either bullets or cartridge cases, or fragments - against a database, said Colonel Al Shamsi.
The traditional method of identification is time consuming as it involves the use of a comparison microscope. In the traditional method, "a firearms examiner visually compares the ballistic signature of a bullet or cartridge recovered from a crime scene with those in the police files," he said.
Colonel Al Shamsi proposed the idea to introduce the system in 1996, but it was implemented this year along with training four individuals on using it. "It is uncommon to find this [firearms related crimes] in the UAE since it's a safe country. But it's always better to take precautions," he said.
Automated Firearms Identification is widely used in the United States since 1991 as it has the highest per capita firearms ownership in the world.
According to Colonel Al Shamsi, the system has the capacity to collect and store digital pictures and link it to the evidence submitted for analysis, and electronic comparisons can be made for both shells and cases, firearm places of incidents using unlicensed and licensed weapons by creating a link between the cases and the identification of unknown shooting crimes.
This will assist in the developmental work of the section by offering a preview of the crime scence by identifying the method used and to determine the relationship of accidents occurring in different places, he said.
Colonel Al Shamsi said the system has a number of services, including linking the country with all the hallmarks of licensed firearms and firearms for shooting clubs. It can link all cases at the level of the emirate by archiving information on the movement of weapons.
Latest news
- Students attend traffic court hearings
- New road widens Jumeirah Lakes Towers access
- Filipino students, groups attend cultural meet
- For this maestro, it's all about the sound
- Experts can't tell old instruments from new
- Sound of violins
- Facilitators: Helping others find joy
- Volunteers remove garbage from Mamzar beach
- Clean-up campaign set to raise awareness
- Sharjah landmarks bathed in light
- Shaikh Mohammad meets South Korea leader
- Get friends on board, zip away with Salik bonus
- Top Arab advocacy group in dire need of aid
- New rules for Abu Dhabi buildings
- In the pursuit of happiness
Community Reports
-
Bridges needed
Al Ittihad Road has no pedestrian facilities as one nears Sharjah
-
Street lights needed
Authorities urged to act with haste before a major accident occurs in Al Nahda, Dubai
-
Motorists ignore stop sign on buses
Overtaking school vehicles can put students' lives at risk
-
Safety regulations flouted at Dubai work place
In Al Nahda 2, two workers were seen working on the crane boom at a height of 20m without a full body harness or safety net in violation of rules
