FINGERPRINTS SENT BY WIRELESS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 7, 9 January 1946, Page 5

FINGERPRINTS SENT BY WIRELESS

LONDON TO MELBOURNE NEW POLICE TECHNIQUE Recd. 5.5 p.m. London, Jan. 3 For the fiist time a photograph oi a fingerprint was successfully transf /fitted from the British police force to police abroad bv radio. Sco.land Yard sent it, through Cable and Wirless Ltd., over the long communications route from London to Melbourne in seven minutes. Yesterday, within 24 hours, Melbourne police were able to notify London b> raaio code that identification hed been es ablished.

Ti-e photograph Cable and Wirelestransmitted was a tinge, print enlarged with codes below it. These codes were agrees on between Australia and Scotland Yard for the purpose of indicating certain common irregularities. Expe. imen s in this use of radio, which will revolutionise police communications, were begun by the head of the Fingerprint Department oi Scotland Yard, Superintende; t Chcrriii, in London, and the Victorian Police Commissioner, Mr. Duncan, ir Melbou. ne, in 1938, but were held uf. the war. They were resumed las' September.

A Scotland Yard official saia tha in view of the success of the experi ment the service could be used ii other parts of the world, irrespective of distance.