BRPI1000332A2 - method to prevent and / or deter a criminal act - Google Patents

Abstract

METHOD FOR PREVENTING AND / OR DISSEMINATING A CRIMINAL ACT. a method is revealed to prevent and / or deter a criminal act, the method comprising (1) standardizing a coordinated approach to an encoding system for the identification of stolen object; (2) advertise or publicize the method through a coordinated media campaign to maximize the psychological impact on criminal minds, which acts as a deterrent, and (3) sustain the deterrent effect by equipping and training police forces in order to maximize effectiveness or identify and collect evidence.

Description

"METHOD FOR PREVENTING AND / OR DISSUATING CRIMINAL ACT"

The present invention is based on the use of effective technology in the field of forensic analysis. It is based on the production of unique mixtures that can be applied to items or individuals sampled and analyzed to provide information that can be used in various ways in a criminal justice system. Coupled with this is visible installation of detector equipment in police stations and police vehicles locally, regionally and nationally, accompanied by effective use of media to publicize this fact and the success that technology has achieved. The method will create anxiety within the criminal fraternity and produce significant and sustainable intimidation of crime.

Various methods and systems for tagging and / or identifying stolen objects appear in the art, including US Patent 4,226,194; 4,858,465, 5,360,628, and 5,599,578.

The method of the invention comprises (1) standardizing a coordinated approach to a coding system for identifying theft, (2) advertising or publicizing the method through a coordinated media campaign to maximize the psychological impact on criminal minds, which acts as a deterrent, and (3) sustains the deterrent effect by equipping and training police forces to maximize effectiveness or to identify and gather evidence.

These three aspects of the invention will now be described more fully.

detail. Standardization:

Standardization is the first platform of the method, and is critical to achieving a coordinated approach to the use of both object and suspect forensic coding systems, and making the following benefits viable:

The method preferably requires a single operating system for identifying an object suspected of being stolen, including selecting a forensic coding system that can be used for all types of objects. This will result in improvements in the identification of suspicious stolen object. It gives police forces the opportunity to create a real and significant deterrent, thereby increasing community confidence in theft and increasing anxiety within the criminal fraternity. Announcement:

Another cornerstone of the method is the development of a media strategy to maximize the psychological impact on the criminal mind that acts as a deterrent. The success of the system and its ability to secure continued media interest will attract regular attention from news media. The power of the media should not be underestimated in terms of communicating the message to the criminal and the wider public. Opportunities include:

TV / radio - newsletters focusing on release, arrests and convictions, as well as dramatic demo interviews.

Press - regional coverage highlighting the adoption of the method.

Posters - in police stations, schools, libraries and other public buildings, highlighting the positive benefits.

Warning Warnings - In custody facilities, alerting suspects to the fact that they will be screened for the presence of the marker.

Street signs - alerting you to use the method in a particular location.

Alert Labels - Displayed in homes, vehicles, and commercial stores protected by the method.

Frequently revisit media strategy, looking for opportunities to heighten the fear of criminals.

A carefully executed and sustained media campaign enables police forces to simultaneously educate criminals and reduce community anxiety.

Support:

The presence of an effective deterrent is another key element of the inventive method. It involves the deployment of cover spraying units in known "hot spots" and the use of media to highlight any arrests or convictions resulting therefrom.

In detail, the following steps are required to support the method:

(1) The use of an automated system triggered by criminals, or those under duress during the course of a crime, by applying a traceable liquid that will provide proof of ownership and prima facie evidence of the presence of individuals on and off site. moment of crime.

(2) The trail may be based on various systems such as chemical additives, natural, synthetic or semi-synthetic DNA etc. However, they must be rigorous enough to withstand forensic scrutiny and, ideally, have successful prior use within an established justice system. Preferred products are those, such as SmartWater, made by SmartWater Technology Ltd., a UK based company.

(3) The use of SmartWater implementation systems in coverage operations by local law enforcement agencies is also vital to the system. Based on the information received and local knowledge, devices can be installed in "high risk" locations. In most cases the suspects are known and can be located at their homes after the event, saving police time and expenses on surveillance operations.

(4) The psychological impact can be maximized in police stations where those with a crime-bent might spend time and would also report back to colleagues with similar disposition, thereby building the deterrent's credit. The installation of UV detection equipment in custody facilities and the display of warnings associated by the police force in the area in which the application device is located are all important. Ideally, this approach should be accompanied by the development of a local force policy to track all suspects entering custody facilities.

(5) Local police forces should be encouraged: regarding the installation of UV lighting and tracking (to detect the presence of SmartWater) of any stolen, suspicious and found objects entering police stations.

regarding the use of UV lights by agents executing search warrants and searching suspects' homes. This approach not only assists in the recovery of stolen objects, it also sends a very clear message to those who witness the process.

for routine police visits to yard sales and local second-hand goods dealers, and the use of portable UV lighting by agents to track all objects that are offered for sale.

(6) Equip police officers with UV (or similar) key chains and provide easy access to powerful UV lamps.

(7) Formalized familiarization / training programs (as appropriate) for police officers and police teams.

(8) Encourage and facilitate the adoption of SmartWater by educational departments and schools to reinforce the concept of right and wrong that is developed within the school.

(9) Renewing SmartWater schemes and updating SmartWater deterrent by recoding newly purchased items. This is an important element of the strategy, as object turnover (substitution) will gradually erode the number of coded items. As this becomes known within the criminal fraternity, the deterrent effect will diminish.

(10) The method requires crime scene police officers responsible for the area concerned to be trained to successfully identify and sample those surfaces to which the mark has been applied and whose sampling is considered to be important for the proper accomplishment. successful investigation.

(11) The method requires that the sampled trail provide evidence at two levels. The former is purely indicative, but nonetheless vital, in that it must provide the item's presence at the moment an application. He should also unambiguously identify the tracking system in use. Without this successful second-level operation, the evidence cannot be provided at a glance, as the required analytical methods and protocols cannot be established. Several of these first level systems can be used, but fluorescence is a simple and preferred first level device. As above, police could "visit" suspects and test for this first-level referral. If found, this would then trigger the second level investigation.

(12) The second level provides evidence at first glance in a court of law. Providing this level of proof places an absolute requirement on the ability of the system used to produce unique mixtures on a global basis. Crucial to this is the requirement for central control to generate and issue trail solutions. Clearly, without this, identical mixtures can be accidentally produced by commercially unrelated organizations, even competitors, based on the same tracking system, as could be the case with companies now offering synthetic DNA.

(13) Of fundamental importance to the whole system is the analytical methodology used to identify the unique codes present in the sampled layer.

(14) Vital to the method is the ability of the organization to provide local law enforcement agencies with a free analytical service based on this methodology. This should be of the highest quality, operating by forensic standards, to provide a mechanism whereby evidence gathered from the scene by trained crime scene agents can be quickly and professionally analyzed while maintaining the evidence chain. Those conducting the analysis should have "expert witness" status, be trusted by forensic authorities, and be able to present evidence in a way that, if required, can be used to condemn, or effectively prove, innocence in a court of justice.

It will be appreciated that the present invention has visible utility in a wide variety of fields beyond those described herein. This disclosure illustrates the presently known preferred embodiments for using the method of the present invention. Therefore, that mentioned above is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. In addition, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation described and, accordingly, all suitable modification and equivalents falling within the scope of the invention may be resorted to. All quotations referred to herein are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

Claims (2)

Method for preventing and / or deterring a criminal act, comprising (1) standardizing a coordinated approach to a coding system for identifying stolen objects; (2) advertise or publicize the method through a coordinated media campaign to maximize the psychological impact on criminal minds, which acts as a deterrent, and (3) sustain the deterrent effect by equipping and training police forces to maximize effectiveness or identify and gather evidence. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the coding system comprises a chemical or biochemical molecule or compound.