The FINGER PRINT BUREAU is and important scientific investigation wing of the Kerala Police which helps various investigative agencies of Police Force in their fight against criminal activities. Apart from Kerala Police, the service of Kerala State Finger print Bureau is being utilised by Central Police organisations like CBI, NIA etc. and, also by other state Police forces. The working of the Finger Print Bureau is unique among the scientific investigation wings. Conviction details of all persons convicted in the state of Kerala are kept in the Kerala State Finger Print Bureau along with their finger prints.
Travancore Finger print Bureau, the fore-runner of Kerala State Finger Print Bureau was started in the erstwhile state of Travancore on 02- 05- 1900 by THEN MAHARAJA SREE MOOLAM THIRUNAL. The Finger Print records of the neighbouring state of Cochin (started in September 1905) were amalgamated to the Travancore Bureau and came to be known as Travancore- Cochin bureau from 30.06.1950. When the Kerala state was formed in 1956, the Kerala state finger print bureau started its function by infusing the finger print records of the Malabar district along with the Travancore-cochin bureau. It is worthwhile to note that the first finger print bureau in the world was started in 1897 in Calcutta.
Kerala state Finger Print Bureau of the Police Department is headed by a Director and functions directly under the Additional Director General of police, State Crime Records Bureau. The Bureau comprises of the State Finger Print Bureau at Thiruvananthapuram, and nineteen district /city finger print bureaux (known as Single Digit Finger Print Bureaux) at district/ city levels.
Kerala state Finger Print Bureau of the Police Department is headed by a Director and functions directly under the Additional Director General of police, State Crime Records Bureau. The Bureau comprises of the State Finger Print Bureau at Thiruvananthapuram, and nineteen district /city finger print bureaux (known as Single Digit Finger Print Bureaux) at district/ city levels.
Finger Print Bureau has two wings.( One)- State Finger Print Bureau head quarted at Thiruvananthapuram and (two)-single digit finger print Bureaux in each police districts.
The main functions of State Finger print Bureau,
.Scene of crime inspection as per the request of the concerned SHOs. and collect evidences/chance prints. Identify the chance prints as that of culprits. Giving expert opinions before the court of law. Maintain the records of the culprits of the concerned districts.