ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES REGIONAL SEMINAR PROMOTING FIREARMS MARKING 1-2 DECEMBER 2010

ORGANIZATION OF ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATESAMERICAN STATESREGIONAL SEMINAR

PROMOTING FIREARMS MARKING

1-2 DECEMBER 2010

INTERPOL Firearms INTERPOL Firearms ProgrammeProgramme

Providing the tools and the technologyProviding the tools and the technology to fight firearm violence to fight firearm violence

SCOTT L. HEAGNEYU.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms

and Explosives (ATF)

ATF Representative to INTERPOL WASHINGTON-United

States National Central Bureau (USNCB)

202-236-7150


Providing the tools and the technologyProviding the tools and the technology to fight firearm violence to fight firearm violence

• MARKINGS NEEDED FOR A SUCCESSFUL IDENTIFICATION AND TRACE OF A FIREARM*:

Manufacturer Country of origin

Type of firearm-pistol, rifle, shotgun, etc. Serial number

Caliber

*At the minimum



4 Powerful Tools

INTERPOL Firearms Tracing Tool

INTERPOL Firearms Reference Table

INTERPOL Firearms I.D. OnlineTraining

INTERPOL Ballistic Information Network


INTERPOL FIREARMS TRACE REQUEST



• The INTERPOL Firearms Trace Request is an international communications tool that allows an investigator to request a firearm’s ownership history from the country of origin or legal import. INTERPOL member countries can access the Firearms Trace Request through the I-24/7 network.

• The Firearms Trace Request was created in recognition of the need to give law enforcement a tool to combat firearms violence, as outlined in the United Nations 2005 Protocol on firearms, which called for an International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons.

• The Firearms Trace Request, should be addressed to the NCB of the country where the firearm was manufactured, unless it was legally imported into another country. If the firearm was legally imported, and is stamped with an identifiable importer’s mark, the trace request should be sent to the country of legal importation. Sending this form will launch the firearms tracing process through the NCBs who will complete the tracing process through their law enforcement and industry contacts. INTERPOL created this tracing form in recognition of the need to give law enforcement the tools to combat firearms violence, as outlined in the 2005 protocol that calls for an International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace in a Timely Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons.

• Users are strongly urged to complete the tracing instrument with all available information, which can be facilitated by utilizing IFRT.


INTERPOL Firearms Reference Table

(IFRT)


•The IFRT gives investigators the ability to properly identify firearms used in crimes, thereby increasing the probability of successfully tracing the firearm’s origin.

•The IFRT is an easy-to-use, web-based system containing more than 250,000 firearms references and 57,000 high quality images.

•Using the IFRT, investigators can identify the make, model, caliber, serial number and country of origin of a firearm; vital information for proper usage of the Firearms Trace Request.

•The IFRT was developed by INTERPOL using data supplied and updated annually by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and is available to authorized users through INTERPOL'S global secure police communications system, known as I-24/7.

•To maintain the latest information on firearms, users of the IFRT are welcome to submit documentation about firearms not found in the IFRT by using the Expert’s Submission Form (ESF).


• INTERPOL Firearms Identification Online Training




• INTERPOL Ballistic Information Network (IBIN)


•Every firearm leaves unique microscopic markings on the surface areas of fired bullets and cartridge cases; in other words a “ballistic fingerprint.” Current ballistics technology enables us to share and compare thousands of ballistic exhibits in a matter of hours.

•INTERPOL's IBIN is a platform for the large-scale international sharing and comparing of ballistics data. The network connects member countries or territories equipped with the Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS), created by our partner in this project, Forensic Technology. Member countries that acquire an IBIS system in the future will be invited to join the IBIN network as well.

•Just as fingerprint data can link crimes and criminals across international borders, so too will the international sharing of ballistic data. IBIN will find connections between separate crimes that would otherwise have gone undetected.

•Over time, we anticipate that the analysis of the shared ballistic data will reveal illicit firearms trafficking routes and provide police with critical information about firearms traffickers and other violent criminals.

INTERPOL Ballistic Information INTERPOL Ballistic Information NetworkNetwork

Born on October 4, 20095 countries

Cartridge Casings: 49,247

Bullets: 8985

Total: 58,232


Current Statistics

• +84,600 exhibits

• Contributors (most to least)– Spain—also greatest # of queries – Denmark– UK– Sweden– Norway– Netherlands


Next Steps

• IBIN Best Practices Guide

• Communication protocol

• Add new countries



Next Steps

• In-country initiatives

• High priority inclusions for countries without the technology (proposal)

• Focused programmes—wildlife poaching, motorcycle gangs, serial crimes, etc


CONNECTING INVESTIGATIONSCONNECTING INVESTIGATIONS

AlgeriaAustraliaBelgium

BrazilBulgariaCanada

ChileColombiaCroatia

DenmarkDominican Republic

El SalvadorEcuador

Honduras Former Yugoslavian

Republic of Macedonia

PortugalQatar

RomaniaRussia

Saudi ArabiaScotland (UK)South Africa

SpainSwazilandSwedenThailandTurkey

Trinidad & TobagoUnited States

United KingdomVenezuela

GreeceHong Kong, China

IndiaRepublic of Ireland

ItalyIsrael

JamaicaKenyaKuwaitMexico

NetherlandsNetherlands Antilles

Norway Panama

Puerto Rico (USA)

IBINIBIN

INTERPOL Ballistic Information NetworkINTERPOL Firearms ProgrammeINTERPOL Firearms Programme

Thank you for your attention.

For more information about the INTERPOL Firearms Programme contact Tracy Hite at the IPSG.

+334 7244 [email protected]

INTERPOL Contact information :Telephone+33 (0) 4 72 44 73 [email protected] Websitewww.interpol.intIBIN Websitewww.SearchIBIN.comTo learn more about the IBIS technology consultwww.ForensicTechnology.com

Documents

ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES REGIONAL SEMINAR PROMOTING FIREARMS MARKING 1-2 DECEMBER 2010