Page 400 - Bahrain Gov annual reports(V)_Neat

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3. The Fingerprint Bureau similarly held 240 Fingerprint Forms of persons convicted of
criminal offences ; all were classified and filed and form the main collection for future reference.
Two comparisons of single impressions on documents were made at the request of the Bahrain
Civil Courts. The previous record of one accused person was discovered by fingerprint
records. There was one interesting ease in which the body of an unidentified person was
found partially submerged in water three days after death and which was alleged to be that of a
previously convicted prisoner. The fingerprints of the deceased were recorded and compared
with those of the previously convicted prisoner held in the main collection. It was shown that
the body of the deceased was not that of the ex-prisoner.
4. A Photographic Section of the CID was organised and although much of the equipment
ordered had not been delivered, by the end of the year this section had already begun to carry
out a part of its normal duties.
5. The murder of Superintendent Alwan Farhan and Sub-Ipspector Hamed Rashid
Assam and four other offences were investigated and prosecuted by the Department during
the year.
6. The disturbances which occurred during November 1956, and which were directly
fomented and caused by the National Unity Party, resulted in the arrest and prosecution
on December 22nd, 1956, of five members of the Committee for National Unity. Three
accused were convicted and each sentenced to 14 years imprisonment while the remaining two
accused were convicted and each sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. A total of 54 other
persons were arrested for being implicated in the organisation and activities of this political party.
Twenty of these persons were subsequently released, a further twenty were administratively
banished for periods of up to two years, including one for life, and the remaining fourteen
ordered to undergo administrative banishment and/or detention for periods varying up to two
years. In addition a total of 267 persons were arrested for various criminal offences committed
and arising out of the disturbances of November and prosecuted before the Courts.
Reporting of Crime
7. The early reporting of all criminal and other offences, accidents and incidents to the
Police is of primary importance for investigation or other action which may be required. The
procedure followed by the Public during the year was in the main very similar to that followed
in previous years when complainants informed the PoliceStation either at Manama orMuharraq
or Police Posts in rural areas. However, a number of complainants continued to follow the
undesirable practice of waiting until the next day in order to notify Police Headquarters direct,
instead of the nearest Police Station in the area in which they lived. This in some cases caused
a delay before investigations could be initiated and in a few cases meant the difference between
a successful investigation and an undetected offence.
8. In June additional facilities for reporting offences, particularly during the hours of
darkness, were made available to the Public when a Duly Officer was established at Police
Headquarters for the purpose of taking action on reports received.
Investigation of Crime
9. The investigation of crime was conducted by the Officer in Charge of Manama or
Muharraq Police Station, with the additional facilities made available during the latter part of
the year when the Criminal Investigation Department was established.
Police Station Records
10. The system in force for the maintenance of Police Station Records could not be
considered satisfactory, because of the difficulties encountered in reviewing action on out­
standing cases, and because of inadequate records. Similarly, the preparation of statistics
could not be readily carried out.
11. The promulgation on the 6th of November of Part of the Bahrain Penal Code 1955,
and the promulgation of new Ordinances, necessitated considerable attention being given to
the Police Station records and new methods for the recording and analysis of crime statistics
were under preparation by the end of the year.
Crime Statistics
12. For statistical purposes, cases reported to C.I.D. and shown below are included in
Appendices C, D and therefore, E.