ATF's Bomb Arson Tracking System Endorsed by IAAI and IABTI

WASHINGTON, March 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) today announced that its Bomb Arson Tracking System (BATS) has been endorsed by the International Association of Arson Investigators, Inc. and the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators to document and report arson and explosives-related incidents in this country.  Both organizations recently notified ATF of their unanimous decisions to endorse the use of BATS by all of its members.

"BATS is the sole database for reporting and documenting explosives incidents, as recognized by the Department of Justice," said ATF Deputy Director Kenneth E. Melson.  "In partnership with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, this case management system strengthens our ability to identify investigative leads in real-time and allows law enforcement to share information and to track and bring criminals to justice."

BATS users can input and access information during the course of an investigation.  They can conduct trend analysis and compare incidents to identify potential perpetrators.  Professional fire and arson investigators and their agencies can use BATS as a tool, and to participate in providing incident information which will assist other investigators and agencies as they conduct the investigation of bombing, explosives, and arson incidents.  The system is of value to all law enforcement professionals charged with combating the criminal and terrorist use of explosives worldwide.

Additionally, investigators can use BATS to find similarities in motives, device components, suspects and crime methodologies for possible investigative leads.  Images of arson scenes, improvised explosive devices and crime scenes can be shared through the BATS secure web connection.  Investigators are able to capture details of bomb and arson cases, casualties, dollar losses, fire descriptors, collateral crimes and device components.  

BATS also includes a functionality that allows investigators to use the program as a case management system; they can build their investigations in BATS while maintaining critical operational security.

ATF is a law enforcement agency within the U.S. Department of Justice dedicated to preventing violent crime.  More information on ATF and its programs is at www.atf.gov.

SOURCE Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

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