Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV

Police identify drug dealer’s fingerprint from WhatsApp photo

by Daily Sabah

ISTANBUL Apr 17, 2018 - 12:00 am GMT+3
 Sabah File Photo
| Sabah File Photo
by Daily Sabah Apr 17, 2018 12:00 am

A new forensics technique that allows police to identify fingerprints from photographs may be "the future" for catching criminals after it aided U.K. police in apprehending an elusive drug ring.

Police in South Wales were able to identify a criminal by a WhatsApp image of him holding ecstasy tablets in his palm, found on the cellphone of someone arrested for possession of cannabis.

The photo helped secure 11 convictions in a drug ring, and is believed to be the first use of the technique in Wales.

While fingerprinting is an "old-fashioned technique," this new twist that taps into a plethora of images available online and on mobile devices could prove to be "groundbreaking," scientific support unit member Dave Thomas told the BBC.

"These guys [the dealers] are using the technology not to get caught and we need to keep up with advancements," Thomas said.

Police spotted the photo in a stream of WhatsApp messages between sellers and potential customers. The scientific support unit was able to scan the image into its system, and eventually identify the suspect.

"While the scale and quality of the photograph proved a challenge, the small bits were enough to prove he was the dealer," Thomas said.

"It has now opened the floodgates and when there is part of a hand on a photograph, officers are sending them in."

As social media continues to grow, everything from car crashes to fights is recorded on mobile devices, providing a wealth of potential evidence of crimes. It's an area security officials are eager to develop.

"These are all advancements in the digital world – they provide lots of questions we need to provide answers for," Thomas said. "It's the future. We are not there yet but it could significantly enhance the ability of the local bobbies to arrest people very quickly."

  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Apr 17, 2018 3:03 pm
    RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    life
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    No Image
    Türkiye's Karaleylek Canyon, a natural wonder
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021