Group Photo of participants at the program
By Ramatoulie Jawo
The Gambia Police Force, in collaboration with the European Union and ECOWAS, unveiled the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) at a local Hotel in Banjul.
The introduction of the AFIS marks a significant stride in crime-solving technology in The Gambia, highlighting the importance of cooperation. The involvement of Interpol and other key stakeholders underscores the collaborative effort to support and advance crime-solving capabilities.
This system is poised to greatly enhance The Gambia’s ability to investigate crimes efficiently, bolster law enforcement responses, and fortify both national and international security.
Commissioner Samba Jawo, representing the Inspector General of Police, expressed the Gambia Police Force’s staunch support for the West African Police Information System (WAPIS), emphasizing its potential in combating transnational organized crime. He highlighted the integration of the AFIS with the WAPIS as a means to enhance fingerprint identification capabilities.
“This is due to our conviction and belief in the potentials of the system, especially on enhancing close working relations within and between national and international law enforcement in the fight against crime in general but transnational organized crimes in particular. The AFIS System being launched this afternoon will greatly complement the WAPIS System through the integration of fingerprint identification,” he said.
Commissioner Jawo stressed the AFIS’s significance in swiftly identifying suspects, matching fingerprints from crime scenes, and linking criminal activities, ultimately leading to more effective crime resolution and justice.
“It will enable us to quickly and accurately identify Suspects, match fingerprints from crime scenes, and link criminal activities. This system will greatly enhance our ability to solve crimes and bring perpetrators to justice. In sum, the system will significantly enhance performance ad precision in the business of law enforcement and ultimately help in improving safety and security. Hence, we are very excited about the project,” he highlighted.
Raphael Briland Chorbe, Chargé d’affaires of the European Union, contextualized the AFIS within the broader framework of the WAPIS Programme, emphasizing its transformative impact on criminal justice and policing. He emphasized its potential to shift from a confession-based to an evidence-based approach.
He highlighted the AFIS’s potential in combating gender-based violence by swiftly identifying and bringing perpetrators to justice, thus contributing to deterrence.
“This system, represents a significant step forward in modernizing the approach to criminal justice and policing. It actually represents a Copernican revolution by enabling The Gambia to move from a culture of confession to a culture of proof. The AFIS system is set to revolutionize the way the West African region handles and processes biometric data, significantly improving their investigative capabilities,” he said.
“The applications are numerous to help fight crime. Let me just point out that the AFIS will be a useful tool in addressing gender-based violence more effectively by ensuring that perpetrators are swiftly and accurately identified and brought to justice, hence contributing in the long run to deterring potential offenses,” he said.
Mulai CFA. Colley, representing the Office of National Security, hailed the AFIS launch as a key milestone in the reform process, urging stakeholders to explore opportunities for project enhancement and replication with regional partners.
He emphasized the collective benefit of the initiative, noting that crime knows no boundaries and requires a unified approach for effective mitigation.
“Quite many of our partners have chosen The Gambia because of our size, and we can easily communicate with partners in the process of the general reform agenda. Crime has no friends or family when it is committed; it is the law. Though the Police or Ministry of Interior is in the leading front, the benefit of this process will help all as a country,” he emphasized.