Activities of operational-criminalistic divisions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan on detection, fixation, seizure and examination of fingers and palms traces

The article is devoted to the analysis of the activities of operational and forensic units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of detection, seizure, fixation and investigation of traces of human fingers and palms at the scene of accidents. The object of the study is the activity of operational and forensic units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the subject is the system of organisation of dactyloscopic support of crime investigation, including methods, technologies, personnel and technical support. The purpose of the study is to identify current problems and prospects for the development of fingerprinting service in the structure of forensic support of crime detection and investigation. The article analyses the methods of detection and fixation of dactyloscopic traces used by Kazakhstani criminologists. The peculiarities of dactyloscopic research conducted in operational-criminalistic units are highlighted. Special attention is paid to the issues of professional training of criminalists. A separate direction of the study was the study of the procedure of operation of the automated fingerprint identification system ‘Papilon’, including practical aspects of its use in operational and forensic activities. The methodological basis of the work consists of dialectical and comparative methods, as well as methods of analysis, synthesis, induction and deduction. Scientific novelty of the presented research consists in the complex and practice-oriented analysis of the activity of operational-criminalistic divisions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of dactyloscopic support of detection and investigation of crimes. The necessity of modernisation of methods of detection, seizure, fixation and investigation of handprints is substantiated. The conclusions formulated in the course of the study emphasise the importance of improving the level of professional training of criminalists and updating the material and technical base of forensic units. It is noted that the elimination of the identified shortcomings is possible only with a targeted and gradual reform of the system of forensic support of the activities of internal affairs bodies. The results of the study can be used in the development of departmental programmes aimed at improving the effectiveness of detection and investigation of crimes using forensic fingerprinting methods.