Criminal photofits add extra dimension
Professor Peter Hancock, a psychologist at Stirling University, has spent the past four months collecting photographs and video footage of volunteers as part of a £67,000 project.
Using sophisticated camera equipment – similar to that used by 3D television – he wants to find out how reliable people are at recognising unfamiliar faces and whether using high quality 3D images produces more accurate results.
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Hide AdCurrent research suggests humans are poor at identifying people they barely know, particularly in police mug shots and line-ups.
Once the project is complete it could lead to the creation of new 3D photo-fit software to make police more efficient at tracking down suspects. Hancock said: “Humans are poor at matching up unfamiliar faces. Some people claim they don’t forget a face, but in the main we are not good at it and often can’t even match up two photos of the same individual.
“But I have evidence that seems to show that, if you have a 3D image of someone, you are more likely to then go on to pick them out on CCTV. In other words, if you have a suspect and you are trying to place them at the scene of a crime, then 3D will work better.”
Officials at the Miscarriages of Justice Organisation gave a cautious welcome yesterday. Paul McLaughlin, co-project manager, said: “There are issues with misidentification in many cases and we welcome anything that could reduce wrongful convictions.”