The Dutch police are getting updated hardware and software to identify suspects faster. In addition, the Dutch and American fingerprint databases will be linked. Finally, there will also be a smartphone application for officers that will make the comparison process much faster.
The police reported this in a press release (1).
Since 1989, the police have been working with the HAVANK database. 'HAVANK' stands for Het Automatische Vingerafdrukkensysteem Nederlandse Kollectie. This database contains fingerprints of more than one and a half million suspects who have ever been in contact with the police because of a serious crime, or who refused to identify themselves.
Agents may use the fingerprints in the database to locate and prosecute suspects. Preventing and trying crimes and identifying a corpse are also among the powers. Every year, some 150,000 new fingerprints are added to the HAVANK database.
The database is of great value to the police. John Riemen, content expert on behalf of the police, says that in an average of 20 to 25 percent of cases, the person whose fingerprints are found is found.
The hardware and software of the HAVANK database have been completely revamped. This allows the police to identify suspects with even less material. "So with less clear traces, we can find someone and with the same material there is a greater chance of finding someone," Riemen said. According to him, this offers new possibilities in cold cases, because new investigations can lead to new suspects who were not in the picture before.
The speed at which traces are processed is also going up. A new smartphone application allows fingerprints found at a crime scene to be compared with fingerprints in the HAVANK database. Previously, it took a week to process a crime scene trace. From now on, forensic investigators can photograph and send the trace immediately. "That improves the quality of the secured traces and the chances of a match," Riemen explains.
Finally, the HAVANK database is linked to the U.S. fingerprint database. Should no match be found in our country, police can search to see if there is a hit in the US. Riemen says the Netherlands has similar agreements with 20 EU countries. The United Kingdom has applied for linkage.
Safeguarding privacy is paramount (2), Riemen stresses. "HAVANK only helps in searching large amounts of data and makes a selection of those anonymous fingerprints that might match. An expert determines whether there is a possible match. Then two other experts analyze the trace completely, then perform a comparison with the reference print and draw a conclusion. That's a very careful process."
The Dutch fingerprint database is quite large and continues to expand every year. At the same time, traces are also disappearing from the database: fingerprints of persons who are no longer suspects in a case must be deleted. Fingerprints may only be erased if the Judicial Information Service (Justid) gives the order. The police, together with Justid, the Royal Netherlands Military Constabulary (KMar), Central Judicial Collection Agency (CJIB) and the Public Prosecutor's Office (OM), are looking at whether it is necessary to take steps to better set up or automate this process.
https://www.politie.nl/nieuws/2022/juli/7/betere-software-voor-vingerafdrukken-biedt-politie-nieuwe-mogelijkheden.html
https://www.vpngids.nl/privacy/
