1384.6 - Statistics - Tasmania, 2005  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 22/04/2004   
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A new NAFIS commenced operations in April 2001 and provides technological improvements in the matching of fingerprints, and new functionality including:

  • international identification standard 'grey scale', which contains 256 shades of grey from black to white compared with the old system that only had black and white;
  • capture of palmprints as well as fingerprints;
  • more powerful matching capabilities, including palmprints;
  • adoption of technical standards such as the international standard for fingerprint exchange; and
  • greater range of methods for accepting prints, such as Livescan and digital cameras.

Livescan is a combination of electronic and laser technology enabling the direct scanning of both finger and palm print, and is therefore an inkless process. If connected to the new NAFIS, the print images may be directly transmitted to the NAFIS for identification searching against prints already held on the national database. During 2002, Tasmania Police commenced activities for the trial of a Livescan device at Hobart Police Station. From 1 January to 25 October 2001, Tasmania recorded 13 palm print identifications through the new NAFIS.