Police's new weapon to crack open cold cases
NSW Police are using groundbreaking technology to give crims the finger - literally.
More than 145,000 unsolved cases, from break and enters to some of the state's longest standing, most baffling unsolved murders, could soon be solved now that police officers can match prints from the phalange area of the hand - the part between the tip and the palm.
News.com.au can reveal fingerprint experts are meticulously sorting through 400,000 possible new fingerprint matches across 145,600 different cases.
The upgraded National Automated Fingerprint Identification System also has stronger searching power and capabilities to be able to pick up matches better.
Assistant Commissioner Scott Whyte, who heads forensic evidence and technical services, said the new technology 'is going to provide an opportunity for multiple cold cases to be resolved based on a portion of the fingerprint that wasn't previously used'.
'We've taken that part of the hand in prints even back in the day when we used ink, but we couldn't do anything with it, but now even all of those prints from back then, the science has caught up and we can use them.'
NSW Police fingerprint expert Christopher Grady told news.com.au the database, which contains 9.4 million sets of prints, significantly expanded the potential of getting matches and solving crimes.
Experts are now working with detectives, sharing information on 110 cold cases where there have been new identifications - 11 of which have been from prints found on phalange areas only.
'These new identification cases include attempted murder, sexual assault, arson, drugs, firearms offences, armed robbery, assault, stolen motor vehicles and property theft,' Mr Grady said.
'The phalange prints can be picked up on handles of knives and weapons, poles, door handles … anywhere where someone would grip onto something.'
'There are currently a number of cold case hits with these types of prints – six to seven new suspects for cold case assaults, robberies and one attempted homicide from 2008 which has identified a brand-new person of interest.'
A 2021 homicide reconfirmed an existing suspect using phalange print technology.
The breakthrough is so new that police remain tightlipped about the specific cases, so as not to jeopardise any investigations.
But NSW Police fingerprint expert Daniel Sommerville said the technology gives police an opportunity they have never had before.
'It's a very exciting new era giving us opportunities to solve crimes and identify prints at scenes that we wouldn't have been able to identify before.
'It's the first time that we have been able to take prints from the entire hand. This is a once in a generation upgrade and we are confident it is going to bring us some amazing results in solving crimes.'
Mr Whyte said he has no doubt there will be hundreds of cases solved in the next 12 months.
'I am amazed at the science, but more so the passion of these who work within the forensic and technical space of NSW Police, dipping their toe into all of these streams of science coming on board that is going to lead to the resolution of some of the most serious cold cases we have,' he said.
'The science is evolving at a rate of knots. Things that we are talking about now, if you mentioned to me when I was a young detective it was pie in the sky stuff.
'The evolution of technology and science in policing is immeasurable. The art of being a detective now is supplemented by technology and science.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Woman shot after pinning police officer with car repeatedly told to ‘get back'
Police warned a woman to 'get back' 10 times before she was shot dead in South Melbourne last month, after the car she was driving pinned a senior constable against a fence. The Coroners Court heard on Monday that Madeline Henry, 33, was repeatedly warned not to approach officers who were making an arrest on Dow Street. As the car approached, the senior constable drew his gun and said, 'Don't you dare drive that car up here.' He continued to warn Ms Henry to go back and used his radio to broadcast that a car was 'trying to run us over' before it mounted the footpath and pinned his leg to the fence he was standing against. He fired four shots through the windscreen five seconds after issuing his '10th direction to get back,' counsel assisting Samantha Brown said. Ms Henry died at the scene and a passenger was taken to hospital with a gunshot wound. The senior constable was also taken to hospital with leg injuries. The coronial investigation is examining Ms Henry's actions and the reasonableness of police force.
Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
Silverwater Correctional Centre inmate arrested over kidnapping conspiracy, theft of high-end vehicles
A Sydney inmate has been charged after police linked him to a kidnapping conspiracy and the theft of high-end vehicles believed to be destined for use by organised crime groups. The 21-year-old was arrested at Silverwater Correctional Centre around 9.20am on Monday, following an extensive investigation by NSW Police's Taskforce Falcon — a unit established to target serious organised crime across the city. Police allege the man played a key role in stealing three vehicles earlier this year, including a Haval used in a planned abduction, and a Bentley and Rolls-Royce with a combined value exceeding $800,000. The charges stem from a dramatic incident in North Parramatta on February 27, when officers from Parramatta Police Area Command witnessed three masked men fleeing from a car. A subsequent search of the abandoned vehicle uncovered duct tape, flexi cuffs, mobile phones and a baseball bat — items police say pointed to a planned kidnapping. The matter was swiftly escalated to the State Crime Command's Raptor Squad, which launched Strike Force Drever to probe the broader conspiracy. That investigation led to charges being laid against three men, all of whom remain before the courts. In May, detectives identified the jailed man as a suspect in the theft of the Haval SUV linked to the February kidnapping attempt. Further inquiries allegedly connected him to the high-value theft of a Rolls-Royce and Bentley in March. Police believe the stolen vehicles were intended to be supplied to criminal syndicates operating across Sydney. As part of their wider crackdown, authorities formed Taskforce Falcon to consolidate efforts across several strike forces tackling violent organised crime in New South Wales. The 21-year-old is now facing a string of serious charges, including aggravated break and enter with intent to commit a serious indictable offence in company, theft of property exceeding $60,000, and taking and driving a vehicle without the owner's consent. He was formally refused bail and appeared in Parramatta Local Court on Monday. All three vehicles have since been recovered as investigations continue into the extent of the alleged network's operations.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Update in case of QLD influencer accused of drugging her baby
A social media influencer accused of poisoning her baby had so many medical documents that her solicitor had to bring in specialist staff, a magistrate has heard. Queensland Police claim that a 34-year-old woman, whose name is not being released due to legal reasons, allegedly gave her one-year-old child unauthorised prescription and pharmacy medications between August and October 2024 to boost her social media profile and secure $60,000 in donations. The Sunshine Coast woman is currently on bail and was not required to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday when her charges were mentioned. Her solicitor, Mathew Cuskelly, appeared by phone and told magistrate Anthony Gett that he was seeking a further adjournment, according to AAP. 'We continue to review the brief (of evidence) … I have recruited an assistant with a medical background who is reviewing quite a voluminous amount of medical documentation,' Mr Cuskelly said. 'It is quite a large and complex brief.' DNA evidence to be disclosed The prosecutor did not object to the adjournment and stated that there was further material to disclose, including DNA evidence. 'It relates to a pill seized from the hospital that was sent for DNA testing, and the interim report was returned detecting the DNA of the defendant,' the prosecutor said. In January, the mother was charged with five counts of administering poison with intent to harm, three counts of preparation to commit crimes with dangerous things, and one count each of torture and making child exploitation material and fraud. Prosecutors have told the woman's previous bail hearing that the infant had been hospitalised due to tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), a genetic condition that causes benign tumours in multiple organs. 'Avoid detection' Jack Scott, the crown prosecutor, previously informed magistrate Stephen Courtney that the woman had refused to acknowledge her infant had a manageable, non-fatal condition and had administered multiple drugs to the infant. 'Her actions have created a serious extra symptom … on one occasion, a code blue cardiac arrest requiring resuscitation,' he said. Mr Scott had previously claimed that on October 3, 2024, the woman had moved a video camera monitoring the infant during a brain activity test in order to 'avoid detection' of her actions. 'She was captured on footage with a syringe. She administered via the nasogastric tube (attached to the infant). She used the opportunity while hidden by a blanket,' he alleged. 'About 30 to 40 minutes after this incident, (the infant) was rendered completely unconscious.' 'Entitled to a fair trial' Mr Scott claimed that the various drugs the mum gave to the baby may have led to unnecessary brain surgery, aimed at finding the cause of the seizures. Previously, the defence solicitor had told Mr Courtney that an email from health authorities stated the child was still experiencing symptoms of seizures. Mr Cuskelly has argued that his client has never been convicted of any crime and is currently facing a court case that could last for two to three years. 'My client is entitled to a fair trial. Police have the onus to establish beyond reasonable doubt,' he said at a previous bail hearing. The woman was granted bail 11 days after her arrest on January 17. On Monday, Mr Gett adjourned the matter until a further mention on August 1.
