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Much to his housekeeper's disgust, the great fictional detective Sherlock
Holmes carried out scientific experiments in his Baker Street rooms in the cause
of solving crimes. Since his day, science has played an increasingly important
part in both the detection and the proof of crime. Technology, the derivative of
science, is used by most countries' police forces today and is responsible for
bringing many criminals to justice. Dr Crippen escaped by liner to the United
States, but an early ship to shore radio telephone enabled the police to arrest
him when the liner docked.
Footprint casts and fingerprints are traditional methods of detection.
Fingerprinting was invented in Great Britain by Francis Galton and has been of
fundamental importance in detection for decades. Some countries fingerprint
their whole populations, though others, Britain included, regard this as an
infringement of personal freedom, and restrict fingerprinting to those accused
of a criminal offence, or to those who are screened for certain security
categories. Science has greatly enhanced the efficiency of this system.
Fingerprints are now held on computer, and much time and cost is saved by
the fact that information can be exchanged instantaneously throughout the
country. Co-operation with the National Crime Information Center in the US and
with Interpol in the continent of Europe greatly enhances this facility.
Records of convicted criminals are now held on microfilm in conjunction with
fingerprints, photographs and personal profiles and stored as computer data.
These, again, are capable of instant retrieval countrywide and can also be
made available overseas. In the UK, this data cannot be disclosed to a jury
during a criminal trial, but should the verdict be guilty a previous criminal record
becomes available in the matter of sentencing.
The polygraph, or lie detector, is not university sanctioned. Its supporters claim
that its ability to record nervous tensions is infallible. Others disagree.
Very recently, DNA printing has revolutionized the process of bringing the
criminal to justice, and in civil actions establishing paternity. The minutest
quantities of blood, skin, hair or nail-parings can positively identify or eliminate
the individual concerned. No two individuals have identical sets of genes. This
scientific advance is particularly important in the examination of cars and rooms
where crimes have been committed.
Interrogation has always been an important part of criminal investigation. In uncivilized countries, drugs, psychological pressure and often physical torture
have been, and still are used. These methods are banned in civilized countries.
However, even in the latter, the police occasionally enforce signatures to false
statements or to statements which are subsequently mutilated. Taped interviews
today now go some way to overcome this abuse, though even tapes can be
falsified.
A good deal of crime detection and prevention has been privatized in recent
years. Some countries allow firearms to security guards, others, such as the
UK, do not. Various pieces of technology are in common use. Closed-circuit TV
cameras allow centralized observation of customers in large stores. Flood-lighting around buildings can be triggered electronically when anybody
approaches in the dark. Foot patrols are issued with light intensifiers, a military
development, enabling them to see without being seen. Electric eye burglar
alarms have been in use both in public buildings and in private homes for many
years.
Observation by police 'on the beat' who know their own areas intimately has
always been a recognized and valuable means of crime detection and
prevention, bolstering the citizen's sense of security. Unfortunately, this is being
replaced by police car patrols. And although the latter are in radio
communication with officers on foot and with police headquarters, the general
public see this development as retrograde.
Despite all the above, crime is on the increase in many countries. Its detection
is no doubt becoming more efficient, due to scientific advance. This is related
to an entirely different factor; the decline in religious faith and observance,
which instills moral standards into children.
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