The Prevention of Crimes Ordinance will be amended to obtain fingerprints for new crimes, Cabinet said yesterday.

Currently fingerprints can only be taken regarding offences listed under the Prevention of Crimes Ordinance, but a Bill has been drafted to amend the ordinance to making provisions for obtaining fingerprints for new offences.

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal by Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa to publish the said Bill in the gazette and subsequently present it in Parliament for approval.