Bundeskriminalamt (BKA)

The Computer as Detective: (Special Information Systems)

In modern society, the computer is an important and, in many fields, indispensible tool.

The "Technologies" group ensures the capabilities of modern police information technology through the development of special sofware.

For example, a computer-based system for the classification and for comparing features was developed to support forensic examinations of handwritten text (Forensic Information System Handwriting - FISH).

The FISH information system has been used successfully for years by the BKA's handwriting identification division. Agencies in the USA and The Netherlands are also using this system.

According to FISH's range of capabilities, the underlying algorithms were further developed and extended to a system for forensic examination of typescripts (Automatic Classification and Identification of Typescripts).