New UK ballistics service
Home secretary Jacqui Smith launches a National Ballistics Intelligence Service today. It will provide crucial information for police officers in their fight against gun crime
The National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS) provides a specialist 'CSI-style' analysis of all ballistics - effectively giving guns and bullets a 'fingerprint' which can be tracked. This means that police across the country will be able to match guns to offenders in double quick time and trace which gun a bullet has been fired from when criminals are using it more than once. NABIS will support the police to solve crimes where firearms have been used quickly, identify the few individuals who import, store and supply illegal firearms and track down the people involved in illegally converting or adapting firearms.
Since NABIS began work three months ago it has already linked over 100 incidents in which firearms have been discharged and have received over 700 items for analysis. This includes providing support to the police teams investigating Operation Trident incidents in London and the Fairfield Post Office shooting.
The national database, available to all 43 forces across England and Wales includes:
* A complete registry of all recovered guns and ammunition coming into police possession in England and Wales;
* A ballistics comparison capability to link crimes and incidents within 24 to 48 hours; and
* Intelligence relating to suspects, weapons, locations and incidents. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said:
"Every gun or bullet tells a story. The National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS) helps police unravel that story and track down offenders. NABIS's specialist CSI-style analysis of ballistics - effectively giving guns and bullets a fingerprint which can be tracked - will help police to match guns to offenders in double quick time.
