Police in Bermuda will be able to link bullets to firearms using new technology backed with $1.3 million from the British Government.

The Integrated Ballistic Identification System will mean officers can collect and store 2D and 3D images of cartridge cases and bullets so that they can analyse and compare images.

National security minister Wayne Caines told the House of Assembly: “The results will link bullets and cartridge cases to specific firearms and crime scenes, allowing the Bermuda Police Service to present strong evidence at court as well as track the use of firearms in Bermuda.

“Additionally, Ibis will allow connectivity to the Caribbean Regional Integrated Ballistics Information Network and the Interpol Ballistics Information Network.

“This will provide enhanced forensic capability by widening the scope of evidential comparisons to include global databases.”

Mr Caines said each of the overseas territories will get Ibis technology after the Foreign and Commonwealth Office secured around $1.3m from Britain’s Conflict Security and Stability Fund.

He said: “The full cost of this project for the first three years has been met from the CSSF that is managed by the Overseas Territory Department’s Miami office in association with Ultra Electronics – Forensic Technology, the sole manufacturer of Ibis.

“The financial commitment for the BPS will start in fiscal 2021 and will represent an ongoing cost of $50,000 per annum.”

He said the Police Service had in the past used the professional services of RJ Lee from the US at a cost of $30,000 to $150,000 a year.

Mr Caines added: “The use of Ibis will all but eliminate this cost and, given the offsetting effect, the Bermuda Police Service anticipates that the cost of Ibis will be met within the existing budget allocation.

“This initiative is an important addition to the forensic investigative capacity of the Bermuda Police Service and one which this Government is pleased to support.”

During questions shadow national security minister Jeff Baron asked Mr Caines if there had been any collaboration during his time as minister with the Bermuda Bar Council Association regarding this initiative.

Mr Baron said: “As you mentioned, the scope of evidential comparisons would obviously widen and I support that and think that it is a great idea, but the fact we are now including a whole breadth of new evidential comparisons, I am wondering whether the minister has engaged whatsoever the Bar Council.”

Mr Caines replied that Government did not need to consult with the Bar Council as the Ibis system met global standards and was in line with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act.

• To read Mr Caines’s statement in full, click on the PDF under “Related Media”