On 20-Sep-05 John Logsdon wrote:
> Has anyone seen the current issue of New Scientist? It suggests that
> fingerprint evidence is not all it is cracked up to be and that some
> people have spent years in jail for crimes they didn't commit.
>
> Worth a read.
>
> Next we will hear that DNA evidence is dodgy.
>
> Comments?
The following is interesting:
http://www.met.police.uk/so/100years/presspack.htm
in which the Metropolitan Police celebrate 100 years of the
Fingerprint Bureau. It's interesting to read through all sections
(except "Events"). Note particularly in "Introduction":
"The system is based on the fact that no two individuals
have the same finger, palm or foot prints. These areas
of the human body are covered by minute ridges which are
frequently interrupted by endings and forks. These
interruptions are known as characteristics.
Each person has a uniquely different distribution of
characteristics. The characteristics develop in the womb
and persist throughout life. The ridges generally form
well-defined patterns that can be used for searching,
filing and identification purposes."
Also, in "Biography of Sir Edward Henry" we learn of the early
involvement of our own hero, Francis Galton!
Best wishes to all,
Ted.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <[log in to unmask]>
Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861
Date: 20-Sep-05 Time: 16:22:04
------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------
******************************************************
Please note that if you press the 'Reply' button your
message will go only to the sender of this message.
If you want to reply to the whole list, use your mailer's
'Reply-to-All' button to send your message automatically
to [log in to unmask]
*******************************************************
|