Taking a Suspect’s Fingerprints
The video started on the introduction of the speaker of the video, Phil Gilhooley introduce himself and
tell his achievements and credentials. The main point of the video was the idea that the police have
developed and upgrade their process of taking a fingerprint and palm prints from all people who have
been arrested due to recordable offences, a national computer system. The plus point in here is that it is
a cleaner system and it is done in real time and the identity can be identified in a short span of time.
While demonstrating, Gilhooley showed all the items in taking a fingerprint: a copper plate, fingerprint
form, form holder, and a palm roller. He give emphasis on how we must avoid sweating during the
process of taking a fingerprint as it can cause a confusion. A person’s hand must be clean and dry
throughout the process of taking his/her fingerprints and palm prints.
First, he apply the ink to the plate using the method of putting number of spots of ink along the pad and
then roll using the fingerprint roller seeking a uniform consistency of the ink. Make sure it is evenly
spread. We should not use too much ink, just use enough ink that shows the background of the copper
plate coming through. Remove the excess ink.
Another person in the video stamped his hands on the copper plate, she rolled her fingers side-to-side
and including the tip in order to fully get the prints. After rolling onto the copper plate, roll over the
provided sheet until you have rolled all your fingers in your two hands. The process goes on until it
comes to the palm prints of the person in the video.
I think the instructions and tips in this video are all on-point and it really helps me to understand the
manual way of getting the fingerprints and manual prints of a suspect. The explanations and the
emphasis on the simple reminders that we must always think of, like avoid sweaty hands during taking
of fingerprints and palm prints seems not so important but it could really affect the whole process of
taking prints. Overall, the video is full of knowledge and it was very good to watch.